Martinelli Luce

MARTINELLI LUCE CREATED

It's 1950 in Lucca, Tuscany. Elio Martinelli, then a manufacturer of corporate lighting fixtures, was busy illuminating public places such as bars, boutiques and hotels. The Italian brand then specialized in the production of interior lighting fixtures. Always in search of singularity, such as the use of acrylic as an innovative material, Martinelli also draws inspiration from nature and its geometric shapes to create its products. The result: simple, uncluttered, even organic lines.

THE COBRA LAMP

A graduate of Florence's Academy of Fine Arts, Elio Martinelli began drawing his own designs for his collections. His pencil gave birth to the famous Cobra lamp in 1968. The first of a long series, it is one of the brand's models that will go down in the history of twentieth-century design. Reminiscent of the curves of a snake, this table lamp or desk lamp has a simple silhouette that can be rotated thanks to its rotating top. The result: a creation faithful to the style of its founder.

FILLED WITH DESIGN ICONS

Like many publishers, Martinelli Luce has surrounded itself with design greats over its 70-year history. From Marc Sandler to Orlandini to Paola Navone, it was of course the collaboration with Gae Aulenti that established the Italian brand in the 60s. Together with the famous architect and designer, Elio Martinelli conceived an object with original shapes, inspired by a bat: the Pipistrello lamp was born. With its height-adjustable telescopic arm, the Pipistrello has become one of design's greatest icons. Since then, it has been available in a variety of formats and colors, including the Pipistrello lamp in mini version.

A SPIRIT ALWAYS ALIVE

Elio Martinelli's daughter continues to cultivate this family heritage. Present in the world's most prestigious museums, the iconic creations left by the founder are not about to die out. By keeping the Martinelli Luce name alive, the whole of Italian design from the 1960s and 1970s lives on.

 

Country of origin: Italy