Banci Firenze Florentine Murano

For more than a century, Italian manufacturer Banci Firenze has earned acclaim all over the world for its extensive range of innovative lighting and other furniture designs that draw on geometry, nature and modernist architecture.

Founded in 1899 by Giuseppe Banci, Banci Firenze began as a workshop in Florence that initially specialized in restoring glass, crystal and iron chandeliers. During the 1900s, the business evolved — Banci Firenze became a manufacturer of exquisite light fixtures from hand-blown glass, handmade gold leaf and wrought iron. 

Although the company is best known for their meticulously designed chandeliers, wall sconces, flush-mount ceiling lights and table lamps, Banci Firenze’s offerings eventually expanded to include other furnishings during the mid-20th century. Especially popular in the 1950s and 1960s were Banci Firenze’s collection of Hollywood Regency-style pieces, such as glass-topped side tables with gilt flower accents and bases. In the 1970s, dining room tables and cocktail tables characterized by mid-century modernist and Art Deco flourishes were among Banci Firenze’s most popular designs.

In the 1980s, Banci Firenze garnered attention for a unique storage piece designed by the Italian architect and designer Ugo La Pietra. Shaped like a staircase, the so-called “flag cabinet” featured brass drawers, silver-cast ball feet sculpted in brass and a brass flag on a pyramid-shaped top. The cabinet was presented at the Abitare il Tempo exhibition in Verona.

Today, Banci Firenze continues the tradition of designing widely coveted, high-quality lighting and furniture crafted with time-honored Italian techniques. 

On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Banci Firenze lighting, tables and more furniture and collectibles.

Antique and vintage flush mount lighting fixtures can help you create inviting, ambient lighting in your space, and who doesn’t want that?

While electric light bulbs were a huge improvement over gas and oil lamps for lighting our homes, we still had much work to do in order to arrive at the broad range of table lamps, pendants, sconces and other fixtures that are available today.

Lighting technology and design improved substantially over time. Engaging engineers, scientists, architects and designers alike, the field of lighting became a major proving ground for state-of-the-art materials like plastics, inventive new mechanisms and emotionally resonant styles that included the ethereal (Isamu Noguchi’s Akari light sculpture), the whimsical (Gino Sarfatti’s 2109 ceiling light and Sputnik chandelier) and the eclectically postmodern (the Toio floor lamp crafted by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni). Eventually, flush mount light fixtures became a practical option for home lighting.

Flush mount lighting fixtures are among the most convenient ways to light a small room with a low ceiling. These structures sit directly against the ceiling’s surface and cast light downward, illuminating a large area and defining the room. Semi-flush mount lighting fixtures hang several inches from the ceiling. They also produce ambient light but can be a little more decorative and lean toward the style of chandeliers.

Flush mount lighting is versatile. Larger fixtures distribute more ambient light across the center of the room, while smaller flush mount fixtures are best for accent or task lighting. The main drawback of flush mount fixtures is that they don’t make a strong statement. You can remedy this by strategically arranging decorative accents that flourish in soft lighting.

Lighting is an essential part of any interior design project. Often, having the right light fixture is key to creating an attractive, radiant room. Ample lighting paired with enticing design creates an elevated, inviting atmosphere, helping to set the desired mood. Selecting the right lighting for your home, however, isn’t merely about creating an especially bright bedroom or a moody dining room. There are many different kinds of fixtures and illumination to consider, with flush mount lighting fixtures among them.

Make a statement with a<a href=/furniture/lighting/flush-mount-ceiling-lights/material/metal/ target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> metal flush mount lighting fixture — a copper or chrome fixture can prove dazzling in your living room. Art Deco flush mount lighting fixtures, with their geometrical shapes and unique detailing in crystal, glass and brass, will go toward creating a cohesive look amid your collection of authentic Art Deco era posters and other wall decor.

Hollywood Regency fixtures — defined by a flamboyant design style for which we credit decorator Dorothy Draper — can introduce glamour and glitz to your living room with their mirrored finishes and complex floral motifs.

Explore a collection of antique and vintage flush mount lighting fixtures on 1stDibs to see what style best suits your space.