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.
$7,500
H 79 in Dm 47 in
Triennale Chrome Floor Lamp Mod. 12128 Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, Italy C.1950
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Camden, ME
Triennale floor lamp Model 12128 designed by Angelo Lelli for his firm Arredoluce in 1947 and first exhibited at the Triennale Exposition in Milan in 1951. The “Triennale” floor la...
Brass
Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce Triennial Mid Century Italian Floor Lamp
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce Triennial Mid Century Italian Floor Lamp The approximate measurements of this lamp are: 34 wide x 34 deep x 64 inches high Good Vintage Condition - Smal...
Metal
$6,400
H 79 in W 47 in D 47 in
Triennale Polished Chrom Floor Lamp Arredoluce, Triennale Angelo Lelli, Italy
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in Buffalo, NY
An iconic floor lamp designed by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, first exhibited at the Triennale Exposition in Milan in 1951. The Triennale is a sculptural lighting design with tighte...
$1,608 / item
H 46.9 in Dm 11 in
Ignazio Gardella 'Arenzano Terra' Floor Lamp in Chrome and Glass for Tato Italia
By Tato Italia, Ignazio Gardella
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ignazio Gardella 'Arenzano Terra' Floor Lamp in Chrome and Glass for Tato Italia Ignazio Gardella was one of the leading figures in Italian twentieth-century architecture. A graduat...
Iron, Chrome
Axolight Float Suspension Lamp in Blue Aluminum by Mario Alessiani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Axolight Float Suspension Lamp in Blue Aluminum by Mario Alessiani From the ingenuity of Axolight and the creativity of the designer Mario Alessiani, Float was born, a multifunctio...
Aluminum
$795 / item
H 45.3 in Dm 12.8 in
Stemlite Floor Lamp by Designline in Retro Blue with White Frosted Glass Shade
By Design Line
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sleek low profile floor made by Design-Line. It features a cast aluminum main base in a sculptural tulip form. The base is finished in a classic retro blue color. The frosted glass...
Aluminum
Powder Blue Cupole 80 Hanging Lamp by Giò Colonna Romano
Located in Geneve, CH
Powder Blue Cupole 80 Hanging Lamp by Giò Colonna Romano Dimensions: Ø 80 x H 40 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Available in three sizes. Prices may vary. This product is suitable for...
Other
$18,500
H 75 in W 40 in D 40 in
Rare Version Arredoluce Triennale mod. 14028 / Angelo Lelii , Lampada da terra
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in Buffalo, NY
Extremely Rare Version !!!Arredoluce Triennale Floor Lamp model 14028 / , Lampada da terra...This iconic floor lamp was designed by Angelo ...
Carrara Marble, Metal, Aluminum, Chrome
$2,717 / item
H 33.47 in Dm 55.12 in
Adjustable Triennale 3 Arms Chandelier Brass, Stilnovo Style, Three Hues of Blue
By Arteluce, Arredoluce, Stilnovo
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Beautiful chandelier with three arms that are counterbalanced. That allows to move the arms up and down. The heads are on a pivotting joint to they can reach any desired angle. Thi...
Metal, Brass, Aluminum
Rare Angelo Lelli Floor Lamp
By Angelo Lelii
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very very rare floor lamp by Angelo Lelli, Italy 1949. Beige lacquered metal base and brass, three adjustable arms with adjustable color lacquered shades, all original.
Metal, Brass
