That a spiky, futuristic chandelier named “Sputnik,” which was highly suggestive of the Soviet satellite of the same name, designed by an Italian engineer could predate the space age and the satellite’s launch by a few decades is the stuff of legend. But in 1939, Venetian-born Gino Sarfatti channeled his obsession with light and expert engineering skills into a design so bold it predicted the future. He would go on to design around 700 lighting products in his lifetime — each table lamp, wall light, pendant and chandelier superb and unorthodox in shape.
Sarfatti’s singular focus on creating opulent lighting designs that were rational in their use of resources makes him one of the most innovative lighting designers in history. He was studying to be an aeronautical engineer at the University of Genoa when his family’s financial troubles led him to drop out and move to Milan to help. During this time, he built a lamp for a friend using a coffee machine’s electric components and a glass vase. This exercise sparked his fascination with lighting, and he went on to found Arteluce in 1939. What followed was a period of working with skilled artisans and tinkering with materials instead of sketching. The self-taught designer soon established himself as a creator of provocative, sculptural luxury lighting. Through the company, he collaborated with some of the 20th century’s most influential designers, such as Vittoriano Viganò, who worked on Arteluce lighting between 1946 and 1960. In the 1950s and ’70s, Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Ico Parisi and Massimo Vignelli all contributed designs.
Sarfatti used resources mindfully and injected functionality into everything he designed. His light fixtures were lightweight, easy to take apart and reassemble and could be affordably repaired. This marriage of utilitarianism and glamour lent Sarfatti’s designs a clean, minimal yet arresting splendor, based on their graphical forms and construction.
After World War II, Sarfatti embraced new wiring technologies and materials like plexiglass, such as his 1972 project with Carlo Mollino that filled the Teatro Regio in Turin with hundreds of plexiglass pipes. In 1973, Sarfatti sold Arteluce to FLOS. His foresight, invention and fearlessness as a designer are revered to this day.
Find a collection of vintage Gino Sarfatti lighting now on 1stDibs.
'Model 1073' 2 Floor Lamps by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Brussels, BE
'Model 1073' 2 floor lamps by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Measures: Height a the small one 182 cm.
Metal
Adjustable Desk Lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A desk lamp having a sculptural white textured enameled pedestal base supporting a chrome gooseneck stem and cylindrical shade.
Enamel
1 of 35 Gino Sarfatti Pendants Model 2095/1 by Arteluce, Italy, 1958
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Echt, NL
Beautiful original model 2095/1 pendants in very good original condition. Designed by Gino Sarfatti in 1958. Manufactured by Arteluce, Italy. There are 35 of these pendants availa...
Aluminum
Cobra Desk Lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A black gooseneck 'Cobra' desk lamp resembling a hose that forms a coil base.
Metal
Floor Lamps By Gino Sarfatti Mod 1025.
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Brussels, BE
Gino Sarfatti (1912-1985) – Model 1025 Floor lamp Brass wrapped in natural leather Creation date: circa 1946-1948 H 168 × 50 cm without lampshade H 191 × Ø 55 cm Bibliography: Marco...
Brass, Bronze
Gino Sarfatti, 2 Chandeliers, Model 2097/30, circa 1970
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Gino Sarfatti, chandelier, Model 2097/30, circa 1970 the bulbs will have to be changed for the USA price is for one two are available.
Chrome
Gino Sarfatti Italian Wall Light Pair of Triple Sconces 237/3 Mid-Century Modern
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Barcelona, ES
Gino Sarfatti (1912-1985) Pair of triple sconces model “237/3” Manufactured by Arteluce Italy, 1959 Painted iron, aluminum, glass. Measurements: 28 cm x 46 cm x 21 H cm eac...
Iron
White Perspex and Black Metal Italian Midcentury Wall Lamps by Gino Sarfatti
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Barcelona, ES
Gino Sarfatti (1912-1985) Pair of wall lamps (two pairs available) (Price per Light not per pair.) Manufactured by Arteluce Italy, 1950 Perspex and painted metal Measurements: 17.8 cm x 22.9 cm x 8.9 cm 7 in x 9 in x 4.5 in Literature: MarCo Romanelli and Sandra Severi, Gino Sarfatti: selected works 1938-1973, Milan, 2012 Details: Each with manufacturer’s paper label (2) Bio: Rising above the devastation of World War II, post-war Italian design reached new heights of productivity and ingenuity, particularly in the realm of lighting. Gino Sarfatti is among the most celebrated lighting designers from this fruitful period. Before founding his company Arteluce in 1939, Sarfatti studied aeronautical engineering. He brought the inventiveness of a self-taught outsider to the field of lighting design, while his mechanical background lent lightness and ingenuity of construction. Poetic underpinnings are also evident in lamps such as model no. 1034 (sometimes referred to as the “Vine” lamp...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Wall Lights by Gino Sarfatti, 1960s
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Wall Lights by Gino Sarfatti, 1960s
Metal
Pair of Gino Sarfatti Design Arteluce Italy Production Set Two Wall Lamps 327/2
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Biella, IT
Gino Sarfatti design for Arteluce Italy production set of two wall lamps 327/2 year '59 Measure 48 cm long x 20 cm high x 28 cm deep = 19 inches long x 82 height x 11" deep M...
Metal
20th Century Gino Sarfatti Set of 4 Wall Lamps Mod. 36 for Arteluce, 1950s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Turin, Turin
Gino Sarfatti was an Italian designer and businessman born in 1912 in Venice. After studying aeronaval engineering in Genova, he founded the Arteluce company in 1939 in Milan. Its pu...
Metal, Brass
small chandelier in lacquered sheet metal, Italy circa 1950/1960
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Mouscron, WHT
small chandelier in lacquered sheet metal, Italy circa 1950/1960 some paint missing
Metal
Midcentury pendant by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy 1960
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Rare pendant lamp mod. 2095/9 designed by Gino sarfatti. Original structure and clear glass diffusers, produced by Arteluce. Italy, 1960s Published. Bibl.: M.Romanelli, S.Severi, Gin...
Glass