Willy Rizzo.

WILLY RIZZO (Naples, 1928 – Paris, 2013), for LUMICA.
Table lamp, 1970s.
Brass and chrome-plated metal.
LUMICA logo on the lamp holder and switch.
With original plug.
In good condition, with signs of wear consistent with its age.
Sold without a shade.
Measurements: 74 x 28.5 x 21.5 cm.

With a distinctly sculptural presence, this lamp embodies Willy Rizzo’s characteristic design language of the 1970s: bold geometry, materials with a sumptuous appearance, and deliberate hallmarks of contrast between gold and silver surfaces. The structure is organized like an architectural composition built from overlapping prisms and rectangular frames, combining the warm tone of brass with accents of chrome-plated metal. The modular repetition of the forms creates an appealing interplay of depth and rhythm, while the verticality of the stem accentuates its elegant monumentality.

The piece was created for Lumica, whose brand name remains visible on both the lampholder body and the original control knob. Its aesthetic fits seamlessly into the sophisticated international design of the 1970s, when Rizzo brought to furniture and lighting the visual refinement he had previously developed as a fashion and celebrity photographer. Several lamps by Rizzo produced by Lumica during this period are documented on the market, all equally characterized by the use of brass, chrome-plated metal, and geometric structures with a strong decorative presence.

A renowned photographer before turning to design, Willy Rizzo began this second phase of his career in Rome in 1968 by designing the furniture for his own apartment. He enjoyed immediate success among his circle and soon received commissions from figures such as Salvador Dalí and Brigitte Bardot. Over the following decade, he developed an unmistakable design language based on clean lines, geometric shapes, and fine materials such as marble, steel, and brass, which earned him his association with the sophisticated world of la Dolce Vita. His official studio currently highlights his Elliptique table among the pieces on display at MoMA in New York.