The work of celebrated mid-century Italian lighting designer and entrepreneur Angelo Gaetano Sciolari became widely popular in the United States during the postwar years and strongly influenced lighting makers around the world. The sculptural forms and striking geometric details of his vintage floor lamps, chandeliers and other fixtures fit seamlessly into the mid-century modern and Hollywood Regency interiors of the day.
Sciolari formally studied architecture but also pursued filmmaking for a short period. When his father passed away in 1949, Sciolari took the reins at his family's company, Sciolari Lighting, which had been in business in Rome since 1892. The manufacturer expanded considerably under Gaetano’s leadership. For one, pioneering American lighting company Lightolier, in New York City, began to import the Italian brand’s lighting for the U.S. market, and Lightolier’s star designer, Gerald Thurston, was significantly influenced by Gaetano’s work. In the 1970s, Americans looking to add provocative fixtures created by Gaetano Sciolari to their living rooms could find them in Lightolier catalogs.
Sciolari initially crafted lamps and sconces that bore the hallmarks of traditional Italian design. But during the 1950s, when he would become the in-house designer for legendary Milan lighting manufacturer Stilnovo — one of the leaders of Italian postwar design — he created revolutionary fixtures that endured as his best-known work.
Sciolari drew on a range of influences — enthusiasts see the imprint of Art Deco, brutalism and more in his lighting — and designed futuristic Space Age chandeliers, ceiling lamps and pendants for Stilnovo as well as Stilkronen and S.A. Boulanger that defied the conventions of the time. A dizzying array of materials and finishes characterizes the designer’s work, while geometry is pronounced in each sculptural fixture — there are blown opal glass spheres, polished chrome tubes and brass square bulb holders. These combinations were critical to the development of dazzling lighting that proves eye-catching in any space decades later.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Angelo Gaetano Sciolari lighting today.
1 of the 2 Leola Sculptural Brass 13-Light Ceiling or Wall Flush Mount, 1970s
By Sciolari Lighting, Leola
Located in Rijssen, NL
Gorgeous Sciolari style ceiling or wall flush mount by Leola. Made with solid polished brass, Germany, 1970s. Can be used as ceiling flush mount or as an extraordinary wall light. ...
Brass
1 of the 4 Leola Sculptural Brass 5-Light Ceiling or Wall Flush Mount, 1970s
By Leola
Located in Rijssen, NL
Gorgeous Sciolari style ceiling or wall flush mount by Leola. Made with polished brass, Germany, 1960s. Can be used as ceiling flushmount or as expressive wall light. The light fix...
Brass
Gold Brass Flush Mount, Cosack, 1970s
By Cosack Leuchten
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful brass Flush Mount by Cosack lights, Germany, 1960/1970. Original 1960s space age brass ceiling light with nine lighting elements. This light was designed and produced by C...
Brass
Flower Gold Brass Flush Mount by Leola, 1970s
By Leola
Located in Rijssen, NL
A gorgeous Sciolari-style ceiling light by Leola. Made of chromed brass in the beautiful shape of a flower, Germany, 1970s. Dimensions: Height: 7.08" (18 cm) Diameter: 21.65" (55 cm...
Metal, Brass
Brass and Milk Glass Flush Mount by Hillebrand, 1960
By Hillebrand
Located in Rijssen, NL
Impressive flush mount, designed and made by the company Hillebrand. The white milkglass shades are fixed on 12 brass 'arms'. Which makes it look like a spider shape. Illuminates bea...
Metal, Brass
Gold and Brass Chandelier in Style of Sciolari, 1960
By Sciolari Lighting
Located in Rijssen, NL
Wonderful high-end chandelier in the style of Sciolari. With long hanging brass 'tubes' and gold details giving this piece an elegant appearance which refracts the light, filling a r...
Gold, Brass
Stunning Brass Flushmount in style of Sciolari, Italy, 1960s
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Aachen, NRW
Nine-light brass chandelier in the style of Sciolari. White glass with a brass frame , best of the 1960s. High quality and in very good condition. Cleaned, well-wired and ready to u...
Brass
1 'of 4' Cascading 28" Brass Flush Mount in the manner of Florian Schulz, 1960s
By Florian Schulz
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Wonderful and impressing Modernist cascading waterfall brass flush mount chandelier with clear forms and 25-Lights. Noble materials and heavy execution. Chandelier illuminates beauti...
Brass
Nido, Flush Mount Brass and Glass Chandelier 8 Arms, Low Ceiling Best, Free Ship
By Silvio Piattelli, Stilnovo
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This chandelier is specifically designed for low ceilings, with a height of only 13 inches (32 cm). The arms and shade holders are made of brass, while the central part is made of metal to hold the leverage. The glass spheres have a diameter of almost 5 inches (12 cm), and the angled arms of different lengths recreate the asymmetry found in the 1950s creations by renowned designers such as Angelo Lelii and Gio Ponti. Our design plays with the arms to create a beautiful combination. The chandelier hosts eight E12/E14 bulbs, with a maximum wattage of 480 watts. The shades are made of thick brass and beautifully finished by hand to resemble the texture of drum cymbals...
Metal, Brass
Stunning Sciolari Brass Flushmount, Italy, 1960s
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Aachen, NRW
Five-light brass chandelier in the style of Sciolari. Smoked glass in a very beautiful smokey brown color. Made with brass, best of the 1960s. High quality and in very good conditio...
Brass
Huge Mid-Century Modern Brass Sputnik Spider Flush Mount Light Chandelier, 1960s
By Stilnovo, J.T. Kalmar
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
An impressive and extra large 16-arm Mid-Century Modern brass spider flush mount fixture or chandelier by Kalmar, manufactured circa 1960 (late 1950...
Brass
Vintage Sculptural Ceiling or Wall Flush Mount Light Chandelier by Leola, 1960s
By Gaetano Sciolari, miiss, Leola
Located in Berlin, DE
Large sculptural Sciolari style ceiling or wall flush mount by Leola. Germany, 1960-1970s. Shipping without bulbs.
Metal
