Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
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.
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Brass
20th Century North American Art Deco Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Marble, Enamel, Chrome
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Enamel, Stainless Steel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Steel, Nickel
1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Marble, Metal, Chrome
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Aluminum, Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Marble, Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Metal, Brass, Enamel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Metal, Aluminum, Brass, Steel
1950s Italian Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Metal, Brass
Brass Shade Connected to a Flexible Arm. Brass and Leather Stem Standing on Round Metal Base
1950s Italian Vintage Angelo Lelii Decorative Objects
Brass, Metal
