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.
Triennale Polished Chrom Floor Lamp Arredoluce, Triennale Angelo Lelli, Italy
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in Buffalo, NY
An iconic floor lamp designed by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, first exhibited at the Triennale Exposition in Milan in 1951. The Triennale is a sculptural lighting design with tighte...
$4,000
H 79 in W 12.5 in D 12.5 in
Mid Century Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce Made in Italy circa 1950's
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in New York, NY
Classic Mid Century chrome, black and marble floor lamp, designed by Angelo Lelli, made in Italy by Arredoluce, circa 1950's. The lamp features three chrome ball shades, which are movable and mount on magnetic bases, the steel vertical post mounts on a marble disk...
Marble, Steel, Chrome
$33,567
H 39.38 in W 43.31 in D 80.71 in
Vintage Triennale Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, 1949
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Roma, IT
Top Rare floor lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce in 1949, beige lacquered metal base and brass, three adjustable arms with adjustable color lacquered shades in various colors. No r...
Marble, Brass, Metal
Italian Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Italian floor lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce.
On Hold|$8,500
H 72 in Dm 36 in
Italian Triennale Chrome Three Arm Floor Lamp Angelo Lelii Arredoluce Attributed
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in Troy, MI
Iconic Mid Century Modern Triennale chrome floor lamp circa 1960s Originally introduced by Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce in 1947 This remarkably well preserved example features tri-co...
Metal, Chrome
Arredoluce Polifemo 12555 by Angelo Lelli
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in Rovereta, Repubblica di San Marino
Beautiful and rare floor lamp by Angelo Lelli, Model 12555 Occhio. Metal and brass with marble base. Italy, 1956.
Brass, Steel
$17,500Sale Price|22% Off
H 91 in W 48 in D 48 in
Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce Model 12128 Triennale Floor Lamp Brass & White
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE Arredoluce "Triennale" solid brass floor lamp model 12128 designed by Angelo Lelii in 1947, produced in 1954. One owner. 100% original. Nothing replaced nor added. Ful...
Aluminum, Brass
$10,500
H 60 in W 41 in D 41 in
Original Angelo Lelli Triennale Lamp by Arredoluce, Black & White Shades, Chrome
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Iconic Triennale Floor Lamp, designed by Angelo Lelli, manufactured by Arredoluce. A highly functional lighting solution, this sculptural design features three adjustable arms that a...
Chrome
Pair Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce 1950s
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Den Haag, NL
Stunning pair of Floor lamps , all the characteristics of a Arredoluce floor lamps .white Enameled upright .Carrara marble base . Brass details . signed ''Made Italy'' Three large E...
Carrara Marble
$8,995Sale Price|25% Off
H 79 in W 46 in D 46 in
1960s Arredoluce Triennale Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelii , Monza Italy
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Arredoluce Triennale chrome floor lamp with enameled shade , model 12128 . Well made with sturdy hardware and construction . Extremely versatile to create sculptural and elegant...
Metal, Aluminum, Chrome
Iconic Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, 1950s
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Iconic floor lamp designed by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce in the 1950s. Round metal base with an elegant minimalist rod. Beautiful opaline glass sur...
Metal, Brass
$8,100
H 79 in Dm 47 in
Triennale Chrome Floor Lamp Mod. 12128 Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, Italy C.1950
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Camden, ME
Triennale floor lamp Model 12128 designed by Angelo Lelli for his firm Arredoluce in 1947 and first exhibited at the Triennale Exposition in Milan in 1951. The “Triennale” floor la...
Brass
$7,200Sale Price|40% Off
H 55.12 in Dm 23.63 in
Midcentury "Calla" Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce Monza, Italy, 1952
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in CABA, AR
Step into the realm of mid-century modern elegance with this exquisite floor lamp by Angelo Lelli, a true testament to Italian design mastery. In impeccable condition, this stunning ...
Brass
Angelo Lelii Triennale Floor Lamp, Signed Arredoluce
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural mid century "Triennale" model floor lamp, Model 12128, designed by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, Italy, circa 1950s. Signed inside shade - "Made In Italy Arredoluce Monza"....
Metal, Aluminum, Brass, Steel
"Calla" Floor Lamp, Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, Monza, Italy, 1952
By Angelo Lelii
Located in Paris, FR
Angelo Lelli (1911-1979). "Calla" gilt-brass floor lamp with diabolo base, imitating a vase containing eleven stems of arum flowers, in off-white lacquered metal that serve as bulb...
Metal, Brass
Italian Table Lamp by Arredoluce
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Italian Adjustable Table Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce.
Brass Shade Connected to a Flexible Arm. Brass and Leather Stem Standing on Round Metal Base
Brass, Metal