By Francesco Bocola
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Beautiful and iconic 'Quasar' plexiglass and steel light sculpture by Francesco Bocola for 'Stilnovo' ,Italy, 1970. A truly stunning, rare and highly sought after example of the iconic Space Age with great pedigree. Please see image 2 which shows a black and white period photo of Pierre Cardin with an example of Bocola's 'Quasar' lamp.
This is the very rarely seen original early edition manufactured by 'Stilnovo' ,Italy prior to this model being sold under license by Pierre Cardin in France through his exclusive 'Espaces Cardin' in central Paris. The December 1970-January 1971 issue of the french design journal 'La Maison Francaise' confirms the 'Quasar' name and also the original manufacturer as 'Stilnovo'. PLEASE SEE IMAGE 6.
This beautiful example still retains its original 'Stilnovo' manufacturer's label to the interior.
It seems to have been fairly common practice for Pierre Cardin to license Italian products under his own name, for example he licensed Claudio Platania's 'narcisso' mirror and the 'servo muto' series of abstract shelving by Alfredo Pizzo Greco both manufactured by Acerbis in Italy and also a series of ceramicware by Franco Pozzi with Cardin just adding his own labels to these Italian products.. The French Cardin licensed edition of the 'Quasar' lamp differs only in that Cardin had 'DESIGN F BOCOLA' stamped into the corner of the steel base whereas the earlier Stilnovo Italian market edition does not bearing just the 'Stilnovo' manufacturer's label.
Pierre Cardin was so impressed with Bocola's design that he went on to employ him to produce a series of avant garde furniture just for the Pierre Cardin label.
Interestingly the 'Quasar' lamp was part of an important and extensive italian design exhibition held in Paris during the summer of 1970 and sposonred by the I.C.E, the Italian institure for overseas commerce ,which was to encourage trade relationships between Italian and French companies. This may indeed have been where Pierre Cardin first set his eyes on the the 'Quasar' lamp. This is documented again in the December 1970-January 1971 issue of 'La Maison Francaise'
The 'Quasar' lamp is illuminated by two circular flourescent tubes,one hidden within each opaline plexiglass semi sphere, top and bottom,amazingly the original 1970s 'AROS' fluorescent ballast control units for the circular light tubes are still present. Please see image 10.
the use of fluorescent lighting allowed for the light sources to be fully enclosed and completely hidden without causing overheating and deformation of the plexiglass elements. Each semi sphere is held apart from the other by a series of chromed columns which also form part of the sculptural form and which also capture and reflect the light further . In addition there are a series of protruding scultpural domes forms finished in chrome which also add to the complex interaction of reflection,light and shadow. The main sculptural spherical form can be orientated as the user wishes by swivelling it on a plexiglass cup attached to the steel base, there are a couple of screws in the neck of the base which lock the sphere in position once the position has been chosen by the user.
This fine example is in lovely original condition with no chips or cracks to the plexiglass elements. There may be some barely noticeable extremely light surface marks commensurate with age,use and the materials used.
LITERATURE :
'LA MAISON FRANCAISE', issue DEC 1970-JAN 1971, Fig 12, page 170, (confirms model name as Aurora and manufacturer as Stilnovo).
Anne Bony, 'Furniture & Interiors of the 1970s', Paris, 2005, p. 95.
Benjamin Loyauté, 'Pierre Cardin Evolution...
Category
1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Francesco Bocola Furniture
