Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce

ELIO MARTINELLI (Italy, 1922–2005). For Martinelli Luce.
“Radar 676” table lamp.
Enameled metal.
In good condition.
Measurements: 60 x 60 cm.
The iconic Radar lamp, model 676, designed by Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce in the second half of the 1970s. Its most distinctive feature is the large, parabolic-looking circular reflector, topped by a handle that allows it to be moved and the beam of light to be adjusted. The reflector can swivel and tilt, shifting from a horizontal to a vertical position and allowing for different lighting angles. The name “Radar” and the reflector’s appearance evoke the worlds of technology, communications, and space exploration—themes that exerted a notable influence on the design of that decade.
Trained as a set designer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Elio Martinelli took his first steps in the field of lighting at his father Plinio’s business. After a few years and various experiences in the set design sector, he decided to start his own business, initially focusing on interior design and the fit-out of stores, restaurants, hotels, and pubs. Driven by the need to bring his designs to life, he drew and crafted the lighting fixtures himself. During the 1950s, Elio refined his simple yet rigorous aesthetic, giving a strong boost to his company, which became a benchmark for Italian design in the geometry of lighting and nature as expressed through its many forms. This period saw a crescendo of intuition and experimentation using new materials such as methacrylate. From these early experiments emerged very different lamps such as Foglia, Bolle, Cobra, and Biconica. Elio Martinelli was an inexhaustible source of ideas and innovation; his design objects—such as Cobra, Bolla, Semisfera, and many others—continue to exemplify that spirit of original design.