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| Gino Sarfatti |
His work with lighting began in 1939, when he started the Arteluce Company. The company quickly became the industry leader for the modern architecture movement.
During his 30-year career, Sarfatti designed and produced more than 400 lamps and fixtures and tirelessly researched new materials and production technologies.
Arteluce became a meeting place and forum for many of Italy's leading designers during the 1950s and 1960s, including Franco Albini, Massimo Vignelli, Ico Parisi and Franca Helg.
Arteluce was awarded numerous prizes, including the Compasso d'Oro in 1954 and 1955, as well as the Honorary Diploma of the Milan Triennale.
From flos.com
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| Louvered fixture icollector.com |
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| Chandelier liveauctioneers.com |
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| Floor lamp 1stdibs.com |
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| Sputnik chandelier elledecor.com |
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| Wall sconce mondocane.com |
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| Chandelier michaelabauer.com |
Super nice lighting! Do you know if this was the original Sputnik design and others copied?
ReplyDeleteYes, what we call "Sputnik" lights today were designed by Sarfatti for Lightolier in 1954, before the real Sputnik satellite was even launched a few years later. The lights were for Lightolier, and there was actually a series of four...the Astral, the Mobile, the Sparkler and the Skyrocket. They were produced for five years, and even back then, knockoffs were everywhere.
DeleteSarfatti did some amazing stuff! Do you happen to know how to differentiate between an original Sputnik and a knockoff?
ReplyDeleteI imagine there would be some subtle changes in design or finish, but I don't really know enough about lighting to tell the difference.
DeleteThanks...both the flush mount 8 arm foyer light and the 12 arm chandelier I have here in the store have the old union labels and are definetely vintage but I don't think they the have the Lightolier label. Still nice quality though.
ReplyDeleteWe have one that we need to restore, but I'm pretty sure it's a knockoff too.
DeleteDon't get us started on lights .... we haven't got time to have a lighting crush too!
ReplyDeleteEverybody has to have at least one lighting crush, even if it means setting the clock to get up a little earlier every morning to make time for it. :)
DeleteThe Sputnik is something I wouldn't mind hanging on my ceiling.
ReplyDeleteIt's undoubtedly one of the most copied light fixtures of the era, so a lot of people must have agreed with you!
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