Angelo Lelii’s energetic and imaginative floor lamps, sconces and chandeliers often reflected his singular personality — whimsical but practical. He is responsible for some of the most delightfully eye-pleasing but functional works in the history of Italian mid-century modern lighting design.
Lelii was born Paolo Angelo Lelii in the seaport town of Ancona and moved to Milan when he was quite young. Not much is known about his early life — online resources frequently have his last name misspelled “Lelli” — except that he studied at the Superior Institute of Industrial Art in nearby Monza.
While there was no shortage of pioneering work being done in the field of mid-century modern lighting design, Lelii was a visionary whose dream was to create technologically advanced lighting that embodied the simple lines of modern design but would be defined by his own imaginative twists. In 1943, Lelii opened his first workshop in a tiny basement in Monza, under the name Arredoluce. A few years later, he designed the single-light, bent-arm Tris floor lamp. Later that year, he exhibited his Triennale floor lamp at the Milan Triennale VIII and garnered wide acclaim. This iconic, slender lamp features three adjustable arms with enameled aluminum shades.
Lelii’s sculptural fixtures in brass and cast iron appeared in the acclaimed design journal Domus, and he embarked on high-profile collaborations with Italian modernist legends such as Gio Ponti — a giant of architecture and design as well as a founder of Domus — Memphis Group member Ettore Sottsass Jr. and the brothers Castiglioni (formally known as Achille, Pier Giacomo and Livio).
Massive success followed for Arredoluce from the late 1950s and into the 1960s. For Lelii, there was his seminal Stella ceiling lamp, featuring opaque, acid-etched glass globe shades; his minimalist Cobra table lamp, which was one of the world’s first low voltage light fixtures; and his aptly named Eye floor lamp. Lelii continued to oversee design and production at his revolutionary lighting firm until his death in 1979.
Find vintage Angelo Lelii lighting on 1stDibs.
Italian Floor Lamp by Leucos
By Leucos
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Rare Italian floor lamp by Leucos. This light gold base and rod look great with this small purple glass shade. This lamp comes with a dimmer switch. Shade is 5.5 in diameter and 2.5 ...
Metal
Loggi Floor Lamp
Located in Paris, FR
Floor Lamp Loggi in raw iron in polished iron finish and in polished stainless steel in gold finish.
Stainless Steel, Iron
Italian Two Head Floor Lamp
By Stilnovo
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
New Italian floor lamp with 2 brass arms and black metal shades. Triangular carrera marble base Arms are fixed - Double cone shade can articulate Shades can be custom sprayed in...
Marble, Metal, Brass
Aldebaran Floor Lamp by Arch Plus Ultra
Located in Geneve, CH
Aldebaran Floor Lamp by Arch Plus Ultra Dimensions: W 36 x D 31 x H 220 cm. Materials: Macassar Wood, Patinated bronze, Silk jacquard. Also available in Table lamp. Aldebaran, the...
Bronze
Adjustable Swiss moderniste floor lamp
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Adjustable Swiss moderniste floor lamp
Metal
Dual Head Floor Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This stylish bronze floor lamp's dual lamp shades make it a perfect purchase for a pair of readers. Overall Dimensions: 20.25"w x 7.00"d x 63.5"h Please inquire about shipping quot...
Bronze
Linea Floor Lamp
Located in Paris, FR
Floor lamp Linea with feet in solid walnut and with black tin-plated shade. Also available with white tin-plated shade. Also available in table lamp Linea.
Walnut
Italian Modernist Two Light Floor Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Italian modernist floor lamp. Patinated brass, marble base, red and black enameled shades.
Marble, Metal, Brass
MIST LED Floor Lamp
Located in Renton, WA
A reinterpretation of our ever-so-popular MIST pendant series, meet the newly redesigned MIST LED. Preserving the familiar misty raindrop silhouette, MIST LED boasts an enhanced integrated LED, (CRI>95, R9>80). The emitted light is both retained and diffused through the artisanal sandblasted mouth-blown glass, cleverly illuminating its surroundings while creating a candle-like glow. Romantic on its own, yet striking in a cluster, MIST LED is gorgeous over any kitchen island and alluring in any nook and cranny. Modern yet timeless, the Mist LED series comes versatile in pendant, floor lamp, and table lamp options. The MIST LED floor lamp...
Steel
Balestra Floor Lamp by G.Luce
Located in Geneve, CH
Balestra Floor Lamp by G.Luce Dimensions: W 22 x D 58 x H 203 cm Materials: Marble and Brass Base, Satin Light Gold Finish Lampshade either opal Glass, Satinated Glass, or Aluminium....
Marble, Brass
Bauhaus Floor Lamp BH 23 by Tecnolumen
By Tecnolumen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
While we don’t know for sure who designed this sculptural lamp around the year 1923, we do know that the designer had a soft spot for mechanics, as the lamp arm can be aligned with a counterweight. It’s also clear to see that the floor lamp was created during the Bauhaus movement. Its playful form and flexible aura are reminiscent of Oskar Schlemmer’s traditional ballet figures and Marianne Brandt’s clear and delicate lamp designs. BH 23 adds a touch of art to sophisticated rooms. Floor lamp available with nickel-plated metal surface. Each lamp is numbered consecutively and the signet TECNOLUMEN...
Aluminum, Steel
Rewire Custom Floor Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Floor lamp with adjustable linen or silk shade provides direct light. Double socket, one in top and one in bottom of shade. Each socket takes one E26 ...
Metal, Brass
'Aella' Floor Lamp by Renato Toso and Noti Massari for Leucos
By Leucos, Noti Massari, Renato Toso
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Aella' Floor Lamp by Renato Toso and Noti Massari for Leucos. Designed and manufactured in Italy, in 1968. Towering floor lamp comprising of a very large blown clear glass shade whi...
Aluminum, Steel
Pascal Floor Lamp by Vico Magistretti for Oluce
By Oluce, Vico Magistretti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pascal floor lamp by Vico Magistretti for Oluce. Originally designed in Italy, 1983. Oluce's newest offering of this model comes ...
Bronze
Floor Lamp by Stilnovo
By Stilnovo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Floor Lamp by Stilnovo. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1960s. Adjustable cantilever floor lamp, with sectioned enamel finish, as well as a patinated polished brass ste...
Brass, Steel, Aluminum
'Corona' Floor Lamp V.L. Porcelli and C. Basile for Porcelli Associates
By V. Lorenzo Porcelli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Corona' Floor Lamp V.L. Porcelli and C. Basile for Porcelli Associates. Designed and manufactured in the US around the 1980s. A heavily weighted base cylinder and two paralleled st...
Steel
