Guzzini is often mistakenly thought to be the name of a lighting designer active in the 1960s and 1970s. But in fact the label belongs to a lighting manufacturing company that was founded by six Guzzini brothers — Raimondo, Giovanni, Virgilio, Giuseppe, Adolfo and Giannunzio, who were inspired by the 1950 film Harvey starring James Stewart.
Compounding the historical record even further, it seems that the Guzzini company rebranded many times in the 20th century, going by, at various points, Harvey Creazioni, Harvey Guzzini, Guzzini, iGuzzini and Illuminazione Guzzini. Harvey Creazioni was originally founded in 1959 in Recanati (on the east-central coast of Italy) by Raimondo, focusing on the production of copper-plated decorative objects. Four years later, in June 1963, the six brothers joined together and established Harvey Creazioni di Guzzini, expanding production to include pendant lighting, sconces, table lamps and floor lamps.
The brothers employed architect-designer Luigi Massoni — who was introduced to the Guzzini brothers by leading plastic importer Maurizio Adreani — as head of design, branding, public relations and advertising. Famous Harvey Guzzini designs include Massoni and Luciano Buttura's Mushroom table lamp (1965) as well as the in-house designed Arc floor lamp (1968), Faro table lamp (1970) and Toledo table lamp (1973). Studio 6G, an interning design team, developed the collectible Clan table lamp (1968); and designers Ermanno Lampa and Sergio Brazzoli were responsible for the Nastro series (1970), Orione pendant (1970), Sirio table lamp (1970), Alba floor lamp (1973), Albanella table lamp (1973) and Alf series (1976). Around 1976, Harvey Guzzini ceased the production of copper-plated items to concentrate on lighting made almost exclusively from methacrylate plastic (acrylic). The company also dabbled in furniture production, collaborating with Yugoslavian furniture producer Meblo, located in Nova Gorica in present-day Slovenia.
In 1967–68, the company exhibited at Domus: Formes Italiennes in the Galeries Lafayette in Paris under the name Design House (DH), where the company featured Gio Ponti’s Media lamp. A retail outlet was opened in central Milan under the name Harvey Guzzini-DH in 1969, situated literally and figuratively among the best known Italian design houses. In 1974, the company rebranded once more as iGuzzini, adding Illuminazione in 1981, which still exists today with headquarters in Recanati, Italy.
Find a collection of vintage Guzzini furniture today on 1stDibs.
Mid-Century Italian Space Age Zurigo Pendant Lamp by Massoni for Guzzini, 1960s
By Guzzini
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Italian Space Age Zurigo Pendant Lamp by Luigi Massoni for Guzzini,1960s Pendant lamp from Guzzini based on a design by Luigi Massoni from the 60s. Here in the large ver...
Plastic
Space Age Mid-Century German Tulip Pendant Lamp from Kaiser Leuchten, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare Space Age pendant lamp of Kaiser glow. The design impresses with its complex umbrella shape with a combination of concave and convex elements. The white reflector on the unders...
Metal
Mid-Century Italian Space Age Pendant Lamp by Goffredo Reggiani, 1960s
By Goffredo Reggiani
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare mid-century pendant lamp from the Italian manufacturer Reggiani based on a design by Goffredo Reggiani from the 1960s. A matching wall and floor lamp is also available from this...
Metal
Vintage Italian Elpis Pendant Lamp from Guzzini, 1970s
By Guzzini
Located in Hamburg, DE
Pendant lamp from the Italian manufacturer Harveilluce. The large plastic shade is finished in a beige tone. It shows the shape of a flat cone with rounded dome. On the inside, the ...
Metal
Mid-Century Italian Space Age Ufo Pendant Lamp, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Italian Space Age Ufo Pendant Lamp, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Up to 250V (Europe/UK Standard).The wiring of this item may be original and might need...
Metal
Mid-Century German Space Age Dome Pendant Lamp from Staff Leuchten
By Staff Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Space Age Dome pendant lamp by the well-known manufacturer Staff Leuchten, Germany. The shade consists of a simple hemisphere in white lacquered aluminium. The underside is complet...
Metal
Space Age IGuzzini Pendant "Elpis" , Harvey Guzzini, Italy 1970s
By iGuzzini
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Space Age Guzzini Pendant "Elpis" – Harvey Guzzini, Italy, 1970s Designed in the 1970s by the renowned Italian brand iGuzzini, the "Elpis" pendant lamp embodies the futuristic aesth...
Chrome, Iron
" BUD " Acrylic Pendant Lamp by Harveiluce by Guzzini, Italy, 1968
By Harveiluce, iGuzzini
Located in Roma, IT
We offer for sale an Iconic Space Age pendant lamp designed in 1968 by Studio 6G, an internal design team of the manufacturing company, namely Harvey Guzzini. The BUD model pendant w...
Chrome
Huge Chandelier Pendant Lamp by Guzzini, Italy, 1970s
By Guzzini, iGuzzini, Harvey Guzzini
Located in Rome, IT
Italian chandelier with metallic pendant and huge lampshade by Guzzini (original label still attached). Italy, circa 1970.
Metal
Guzzini Kuala Space Age Pendant Lamp by Franco Bresciani, 1970s
By Guzzini
Located in ROTTERDAM, ZH
Small Guzzini 'Kuala' space age pendant lamp by Franco Bresciani. The lamp is made from beige acrylic glass and has a gold plated ball on top the shade. The lamp requires an E27/26 (...
Metal
A Large Lucite SPACE-AGE Ceiling Fixture LAMP by GUZZINI, Italy 1960
By D. H. Guzzini
Located in PARIS, FR
A spectacular "Raise & Lower" pendant light, Post-Modernist, Memphis, Space-Age, with 4 arms of chrome metal lights suspended around a central axis with handle loop, all under a ...
Metal
1970s Guzzini Pendant Lamp by Meblo, Italy
By Meblo, Guzzini
Located in Praha, CZ
- Rewired and repolished - 1x E26-E27 bulb - US wiring compatible
Plastic
