Mid-Century Italian lighting from Stilnovo

A Mangiarotti Dining Room Set with Gibelli Chairs and Stilnovo Lamp. Image from 1stDibs.

My mid-century Italian design adventures naturally often take me to 1stDibs which is where I first came across lighting from Stilnovo.

 

1stDibs itself is a rabbit hole well worth the plunge, so if you haven’t visited yet, get browsing. Its where vintage collecting dreams are made.

 

Who are Stilnovo?

Founded in 1946 by Bruno Gatta, Stilnovo lighting is synonymous with post war Italian design. Originally manufacturing lighting for the industrial sector primarily, Stilnovo soon became an iconic brand.

Producing designs in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s by a slew of high profile designers such as furniture and lighting designer Achille Castiglioni and the architect Ettore Sottsass, a founder of the Memphis Movement.

 

Their floor lamps, scones, chandeliers and pendant lights are instantly recognisable for their shape and colour and it’s these elements, plus Gatta’s ingenious use of materials, that got him noticed through-out Europe in the post war Italian design boom.

 

Stilnovo was acquired by Linea Group, LED technologists, in 2019. Their reimagining of original Stilnovo designs partnered with Linea’s contemporary technologies are one to watch.

 

But for me, it’s the first several decades of design that I love.

 

What I’ve got my eye on for Number Four

A subtle Stilnovo chandelier hang over the bed of this Berlin apartment (also accompanied by an equally wow Murano glass table lamp by Carlo Nason Mazzega). Images by White Arrow via Dwell website.

The spaces I’m hankering after a Stilnovo piece for are wall sconces or lamps for the master bedroom and potentially a chandelier for the dining room. Although I have my eye on a modern piece by Apparatus for that space too. I also wouldn’t say no to a floor lamp for the living room. A girl can dream right?

 

If I can get the right pieces for the master, I’ll be a happy designer. If nothing else, the aesthetic will influence my task lighting choices for this space.

 

Here are some of my favourite pieces, mostly from the 1950’s and 1960’s (all imagery from 1stDibs).