It is fitting that Gino Sarfatti (1912–85) had his sights set on the skies for his ornate and influential Sputnik chandelier. The Venice-born designer and industrialist had been pursuing an aeronautics degree at the University of Genoa when his father encountered financial troubles and relocated the family to Milan, where Sarfatti inadvertently created his first lighting fixture.
After he built a lamp for a friend using a glass vase and a coffee machine’s electrical components, Sarfatti soon became enamored with lighting design. In 1939, opened his Arteluce workshop, followed by a retail space.
Working closely with local artisans, he gained valuable technical knowledge and developed hundreds of provocative, pioneering lighting projects that, given economic conditions in pre– and post–World War II Italy, were originally dependent on a cobbling of limited resources. The Sputnik chandelier — artful but constructed from few materials — owes its design to the skills that Sarfatti had honed on the job.
Nickname aside, the ceiling fixture that Sarfatti called Fuoco d'artificio (Italian for “fireworks”) was designed in 1939, nearly 20 years before the Soviet Union launched its Sputnik 1 satellite into orbit. The chandelier wasn’t actually manufactured until the early 1950s — ahead of the satellite's liftoff, mysteriously — but the design was a snug fit for the era's futurist architecture and Pierre Cardin’s flashy vinyl apparel. In the furniture world, the debut of Eero Aarnio’s pod-like Ball chair was imminent, and the Space-Age frenzy had engulfed popular culture, technology and politics.
In its awe-inspiring arrangement of jutting tubular brass arms and exposed pear-shaped bulbs (some models feature more than 20), Sarfatti’s light was an appropriate addition to the quirky Space-Age furnishings that had become fashionable in the 1950s. While the designer pursued function and utilitarianism, he was prone to the kind of experimentation that yielded his famous chandelier.
The Sputnik uses suspension cables and metal reflectors in lieu of the parchment lampshades that were commonplace during the early days of Arteluce. In 1973, following collaborations with Franco Albini, Marco Zanuso and others over the years, Sarfatti sold his award-winning company to lighting manufacturer FLOS, while his son, Riccardo, cofounded Luceplan in 1979.
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Rare Sputnik Chandelier Model 2003
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce in 1939, rare 'Fuoco d'artificio' chandelier model 2003 executed in the 1950s, Italy. This 24-light sputnik ceiling light is composed of tubula...
Brass
Chandelier by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chandelier by Arteluce. Designed and Manufactured in Italy, circa the 1950s. Naturally aged brass throughout with black enameled accents on joints and canopy. Rewired for US standard...
Brass
Single Seguso Glass Pendant by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Single Seguso Glass Pendant by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1960s. Executed in hand blown bubbled Seguso glass and painted metal. This si...
Steel
Gino Sarfatti Chandelier for Arteluce, Italy circa 1960s
By Arteluce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gino Sarfatti chandelier for Arteluce. Made in Italy in 1960s. Patinated brass. 12 Candelabra sockets. Complimentary US rewiring upon request. Height adjustable. Ceiling rod can be ...
Metal, Brass
$5,134
H 11.82 in Dm 19.69 in
Mid-Century rare early Model 2042/3 Ceiling Lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Catania, CT
Good vintage condition with trace of age and use for this rare early model 2042/3 designed by Gino Sarfatti and produced in Italy during the 60s by Arteluce. Full working with EU sta...
Aluminum
$15,451
H 17.72 in Dm 29.93 in
Gino Sarfatti chandelier Model 2042/9 produced by Arteluce, Italy, 1960s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A chandelier with nine metal and opaline glass diffusers, Model 2042/9, designed by Gino Sarfatti and manufactured by Arteluce in Italy during the 1960s. A glowing orb encased in a ...
Aluminum
Lampada a soffitto '2042/3' Gino Sarfatti per Arteluce anni 50
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Milano, IT
Lampada a sospensione modello '2042/3' in alluminio verniciato e vetro satinato a tre punti luce. Disegnata da Gino Sarfatti e prodotta da Arteluce negli anni '50, la lampada è resta...
Aluminum
$7,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in Dm 34 in
Rare 1st Edition model 2097 Chandelier by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model 2097 Chandelier by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, in 1958. Iconic chandelier comprising of a central suspension pole and a sequence of variable...
Brass
2133 Pendant Lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, 1970s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Padova, IT
Metal chandelier pendant lamp 2133 model designed by Gino Sarfatti and manufactured by Arteluce Italy 1970s. White metal lampshade with black metal lamp holder, where the lampshade s...
Metal
$3,847Sale Price|20% Off
H 57.09 in Dm 35.44 in
Rare Vintage Chandelier by Gino Sarfatti for ArteLuce, 1930s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful and rare chandelier by Gino Sarfatti for the fine manufacture ArteLuce designed in the '30s. The chandelier is made of white painted aluminum. The structure of the chandeli...
Aluminum
1960s Gino Sarfatti Seguso Bubble Glass Pendant for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce, Archimede Seguso
Located in Glendale, CA
1960s Gino Sarfatti metal and Seguso glass pendant for Arteluce. Executed in hand blown bubbled Seguso glass and painted metal. The simplicity of Sarfatti's design and the sculptural...
Metal
Gino Sarfatti model 2133 chandeliers Arteluce Italy 1972
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Beautiful Gino Sarfatti Model 2133 chandeliers, produced by Arteluce in Italy in 1972. These chandeliers are truly unique, featuring a minimalist design that resembles a floating dis...
Metal, Aluminum
Early Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Chrome Chandelier
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Hanover, MA
This is a very early example of the iconic "2097" chandelier designed in 1958 by Gino Sarfatti and produced by Arteluce, from the late 1950's early 1960's. Chrome is bright and shiny...
Chrome
Gino Sarfatti 2003 irr chandelier Arteluce Italy 1939
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning so called firework chandelier model 2003 irr designed by Gino Sarfatti and manufactured by Arteluce, Italy 1939. Highly rare and early chandelier by one of the best light de...
Brass, Metal
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Sputnik Chandelier
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in New York, NY
Very rare and iconic Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce brass chandelier. Originally designed circa 1939 with manufacturing execution in 1953 after S...
Brass
Gino Sarfatti for Lightolier Astral Sputnik
By Lightolier, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Hanover, MA
In 1939 Gino Sarfatti first designed his 'Fuoco d'artificio' chandelier but it wasn't until 1957 that it became commonly known as the Sputnik. It was the inspiration behind his 1954 ...
Brass
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Rare Sputnik Chandelier Model 2003
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce in 1939, rare 'Fuoco d'artificio' chandelier model 2003 executed in the 1950s, Italy. This 24-light sputnik ceiling light is composed of tubula...
Brass
