The work of celebrated mid-century Italian lighting designer and entrepreneur Angelo Gaetano Sciolari became widely popular in the United States during the postwar years and strongly influenced lighting makers around the world. The sculptural forms and striking geometric details of his vintage floor lamps, chandeliers and other fixtures fit seamlessly into the mid-century modern and Hollywood Regency interiors of the day.
Sciolari formally studied architecture but also pursued filmmaking for a short period. When his father passed away in 1949, Sciolari took the reins at his family's company, Sciolari Lighting, which had been in business in Rome since 1892. The manufacturer expanded considerably under Gaetano’s leadership. For one, pioneering American lighting company Lightolier, in New York City, began to import the Italian brand’s lighting for the U.S. market, and Lightolier’s star designer, Gerald Thurston, was significantly influenced by Gaetano’s work. In the 1970s, Americans looking to add provocative fixtures created by Gaetano Sciolari to their living rooms could find them in Lightolier catalogs.
Sciolari initially crafted lamps and sconces that bore the hallmarks of traditional Italian design. But during the 1950s, when he would become the in-house designer for legendary Milan lighting manufacturer Stilnovo — one of the leaders of Italian postwar design — he created revolutionary fixtures that endured as his best-known work.
Sciolari drew on a range of influences — enthusiasts see the imprint of Art Deco, brutalism and more in his lighting — and designed futuristic Space Age chandeliers, ceiling lamps and pendants for Stilnovo as well as Stilkronen and S.A. Boulanger that defied the conventions of the time. A dizzying array of materials and finishes characterizes the designer’s work, while geometry is pronounced in each sculptural fixture — there are blown opal glass spheres, polished chrome tubes and brass square bulb holders. These combinations were critical to the development of dazzling lighting that proves eye-catching in any space decades later.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Angelo Gaetano Sciolari lighting today.
Vintage Italian Chandelier/Pendant by Gaetano Sciolari, Italy, 1970's.
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Striking vintage Italian chandelier designed by Gaetano Sciolari, circa 1970's. This sculptural fixture features nine geometric glass diffusers that provide a refined, glowing light....
Chrome
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Italian Chrome Sputnik Wall Light by Gaetano Sciolari
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Sputnik chrome wall lamp by Gaetano Sciolari.
Chrome
Sciolari Chrome and Lucite 20-Light Chandelier Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 1970
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Miami, FL
Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Sciolari chrome and Lucite twenty-light chandelier from the 1970s. Comes with a 17 inches long chain and canopy. US rewired and in working condit...
Metal, Chrome
Gaetano Sciolari Two Lights Wall Sconces Brass and Chrome, Italy 1970s, Pair
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Mid-Century Modern two light Gaetano Sciolari wall sconces made out of brass and chrome finish. Each sconce takes 2 light bulbs with max. 40 watts. Square back plate measur...
Brass, Chrome
Architectural 1970s Steel Ribbon Cloud Pendant Chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari
By Lightolier, Max Sauze, Curtis Jeré, Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Chicago, IL
Architectural 1970s Steel Ribbon Cloud Pendant Chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari. A nice early period example. Similar to the work of Max Sauze. Some light rust spotting to the stee...
Steel
$2,294Sale Price|20% Off
Gaetano Sciolari fine table lamp, brass, walnut, white plexiglass mod. A/1 1960
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Rome, IT
Gaetano Sciolari table lamp model A/1 , circa 1950 iconical lamp, essential design walnut, brass, plexiglass lampshade measures: height: 56, dia: 46 cm marked on the retro SCIOLARI...
Brass
$1,314 / set
Wall Sconces by Gaetano Sciolari
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in MADRID, ES
Wall sconces designed by Gaetano Sciolari. Chrome-plated steel frames with white metal inlay. Italy, 1960s. Length: 25,5cm Width: 17cm Height: 34cm Gaetano Sciolari (1927-1994) wa...
Steel
Large Sciolari Chandelier
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
matching smaller ceiling light available + 5 sconces
Metal
Pair of Large Wall Sconces by Gaetano Sciolari, 1960
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing pair of two large wall lamps in vintage condition with a truly alternative design that only Mister Gaetano Sciolari could give. The sconces have been created with glass and b...
Brass
Table lamp by Gaetano Sciolari for Sciolari, 1960s
By Gaetano Sciolari, Sciolari Lighting
Located in bruxelles, BE
Metal lamp with metal shade and hand-sewn fabric. Stamped Sciolari on the top of the lamp and on the socket. Wear due to time and age of the lamp.
Metal
Sciolari Floor Lamp Metal Crome Glass Metal 1955 Italy
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Milano, IT
Gaetano Sciolari foor lamp.
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Italian Gaetano Sciolari Chrome and Crystal Glass Chandelier
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian Gaetano Sciolari chrome and crystal glass cascade pendant with 9-light from 1970s.
Chrome
Large Round Chandelier "Ovali" by Gaetano Sciolari, Italy, circa 1970
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Paris, FR
Three stage chandelier from the "Ovali" collection by Gaetano Sciolari, in aged silver bronze (original patina) and nickel-plated bronze. Rare round model with 24 lights. The three crowns carry cut oval glasses and small daggers...
Silver, Brass, Bronze, Nickel
$1,835Sale Price / set|30% Off
Silver Gaetano Sciolari Sputnik Table Lamps, Italy, 1960s
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Hastings, GB
Pair of chrome Sputnik table lamps, Italy, 1960s Made In Italy Gaetano Sciolari 1960S A very unique pair of statement table lamps Fabulous design, made of chrome-plated metal Used...
Chrome
Vintage Lightolier Brass 36 Light Chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari / Arredoluce
By Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Lightolier Brass 36 Light Chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari Manner of Arredoluce
Brass
Sciolari Chandelier of Brass, Chrome and Glass
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sciolari chandelier of brass, chrome and glass. Original label. Located in NY.
Brass, Chrome
$3,440Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Silver Plated Crystal Chandelier, Gaetano Sciolari Italy 1960
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Twelve round chandelier with crystal pendants and fixed crystal rods on two levels. In excellent condition, wiring has been checked and ...
Crystal, Metal
$2,800 / set
Pair of Sciolari Sconces
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Sciolari sconces in brass. One socket.
Glass
$1,433Sale Price|40% Off
Mid-Century Italian Crystal Chandelier by Gaetano Sciolari, 1970
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/8285 - Italian vintage crystal chandelier from Gaetano Sciolari: elegant and modern taste, even if vintage from 70's. Now I wish to close my ...
Crystal
Elegant Midcentury Chrome and Brass Geometric Sciolari Chandelier
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Beirut, LB
This exceptional Zig Zag Modernist chandelier by the renowned Italian designer Gaetano Sciolari is a striking example of 1960s lighting design. The piece features a dynamic, geometri...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Modern Brass Sciolari Sconces 1970'
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Rome, IT
Pair of brass sconces by Gaetano Sciolari. Each with five E 14 light bulbs. Available 2 pairs with 5 light. 2 pairs with 3 lights 2 pairs with 2 lights 2 pairs with 1 light
Brass
Whimsical Sciolari Chandelier
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Whimsical Sciolari chandelier.
Chrome
Sciolari gaetano silver sconce
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in PARIS, FR
Applique a 3 branches de Gaetano Sciolari en chromé d un design trés contemporain et épure
Metal
Gaetano Sciolari chandelier in molded glass , anodized aluminum, Ecolight Milan
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Grenoble, FR
Gaetano Sciolari very nice chandelier in molded glass and anodized aluminum, Ecolight Milano edition Italy perfect condition
Aluminum
Pendant Light by Gaetano Sciolari, 1970
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in JASSANS-RIOTTIER, FR
Pendant light designed by Italian Gaetano Sciolari in the seventies (stamp on the lamp, see picture) Structure with brushed chrome and shiny chrome elements terminated by translucen...
Metal
$812Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of vintage solid brass wall lamps by Sciolari Rome, 1960s
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Catania, IT
A pair of high quality solid brass italian wall sconces, they work 110-240 volts and need regular e14 bulbs. The brass original patina gives them a vibrant vintage look.
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp by Gaetano sciolari for Stilnovo, Italy 1950s
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern floor lamp by Gaetano sciolari for Stilnovo, Italy 1950s.
Marble, Metal
Gaetano Sciolari Floorlamp Chrome Plated and Brushed Aluminium with Murano Glass
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Elegant Mid-century floor lamp designed by Gaetano Sciolari for Sciolari, 1960-70s. This is an extremely rare object, for true connoisseurs and not to be missed. It is the largest ve...
Aluminum, Chrome
The Squirrel Cage Chandelier
By Gaetano Sciolari, Lightolier
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A nice chromed cage lamp by Gaetano Sciolari for Lightolier. Four clear bulbs within the thick squared wire exterior.
Metal
$1,650 / set
Pair of Chrome Sciolari Sconces
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Italian sconces.
Large Mid-Century Modern Pendant by Gaetano Sciolari, Plated Metal, Glass- Italy
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Girona, Girona
Large pendant with three tiers of chrome-plated metal tubes with glass balls, 8-light. Original condition. Design: Gaetano Sciolari Italy, circa 1960.
Metal
Chrome Steel Hanging Lamp by Gaetano Sciolari for Boulanger, 1960s
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Chrome steel hanging lamp by Gaetano Sciolari for Boulanger, 1960s. Measures: h 62 x diameter 40 cm.
Steel, Chrome
$3,800
Sciolari Pendant Fixture
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nine-light chrome Sciolari pendant.
Chrome