Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Italian, 1912-1985
That a spiky, futuristic chandelier named “Sputnik,” which was highly suggestive of the Soviet satellite of the same name, designed by an Italian engineer could predate the space age and the satellite’s launch by a few decades is the stuff of legend. But in 1939, Venetian-born Gino Sarfatti channeled his obsession with light and expert engineering skills into a design so bold it predicted the future. He would go on to design around 700 lighting products in his lifetime — each table lamp, wall light, pendant and chandelier superb and unorthodox in shape.
Sarfatti’s singular focus on creating opulent lighting designs that were rational in their use of resources makes him one of the most innovative lighting designers in history. He was studying to be an aeronautical engineer at the University of Genoa when his family’s financial troubles led him to drop out and move to Milan to help. During this time, he built a lamp for a friend using a coffee machine’s electric components and a glass vase. This exercise sparked his fascination with lighting, and he went on to found Arteluce in 1939. What followed was a period of working with skilled artisans and tinkering with materials instead of sketching. The self-taught designer soon established himself as a creator of provocative, sculptural luxury lighting. Through the company, he collaborated with some of the 20th century’s most influential designers, such as Vittoriano Viganò, who worked on Arteluce lighting between 1946 and 1960. In the 1950s and ’70s, Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Ico Parisi and Massimo Vignelli all contributed designs.
Sarfatti used resources mindfully and injected functionality into everything he designed. His light fixtures were lightweight, easy to take apart and reassemble and could be affordably repaired. This marriage of utilitarianism and glamour lent Sarfatti’s designs a clean, minimal yet arresting splendor, based on their graphical forms and construction.
After World War II, Sarfatti embraced new wiring technologies and materials like plexiglass, such as his 1972 project with Carlo Mollino that filled the Teatro Regio in Turin with hundreds of plexiglass pipes. In 1973, Sarfatti sold Arteluce to FLOS. His foresight, invention and fearlessness as a designer are revered to this day.
Find a collection of vintage Gino Sarfatti lighting now on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Gino Sarfatti
Recognized Seller Listings
Gino Sarfatti, Adjustable Table Lamp, White Metal, Leather, Arteluce, Italy 1966
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable table lamp, designed and produced by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, 1966.
White-lacquered metal socket is mounted on the base in form of a leather pouch filled w...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce '609' Table Lamps in Aluminum and Cast Iron
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, table lamps, model ‘609’, enameled aluminum, bakelite, cast iron, steel, Italy, 1973
A design by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, table lamp model 609 created...
Category
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel, Iron
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce '516' Table Lamp
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, table lamp, model ‘516’, brass, marble, enameled aluminum, Italy, 1948
This desk lamp, model 516, is designed by the influential designer in the field of...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Marble, Aluminum, Brass
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Pair of Lamps in Aluminum
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, pair of table or floor lamps, model '586', aluminum, wire, Italy, 1962.
Pair of stunning aluminum lamps designed by Italian designer Gino Sarfatti for Ar...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Wire
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce ‘181’ Wall Light
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, wall light, model ‘181’, lacquered steel, coated steel, lacquered aluminum, brass, Italy, 1951
This wall light, a variation on model 181, is designed by ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Midcentury wall light mod. 194n by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy.
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Extending arm wall light model 194n designed by Gino Sarfatti and produced by Arteluce in 1958 circa.
The original structure is composed by a ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
20th Century Gino Sarfatti Chandelier Mod. 2109/24 in White for Arteluce, 1960s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Turin, Turin
Gino Sarfatti was an Italian designer and businessman born in 1912 in Venice. After studying aeronaval engineering in Genova, he founded the Arteluce company in 1939 in Milan. Its pu...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Pendant Model '194/N'
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, off-white pendant '194/N', metal, wire, Italy, 1950
A beautiful pendant in a natural colored metal made in Italy around 1950. This pendant designed by li...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
Rare Adjustable Floor Lamp Mod. 1045 by Gino Sarfatti
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Milan, IT
Rare adjustable floor lamp mod. 1045 by Gino Sarfatti, Italy, circa 1948. Manufactured by Arteluce. Brass, lacquered metal. Base 34 x 34 cm H min-max 10...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
20th Century Gino Sarfatti Adjustable Wall Lamp Mod. 194 for Arteluce, 1950s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Turin, Turin
The Italian designer and businessman Gino Sarfatti was born in 1912 in Venice. After studying aeronaval engineering in Genova, he founded the Arteluce company in 1939 in Milan. His w...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
20th Century Gino Sarfatti Set of 3 Wall Lamps Mod. 238/2 for Arteluce, 1960s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Turin, Turin
Gino Sarfatti was an Italian designer and businessman born in 1912 in Venice. After studying aeronaval engineering in Genova, he founded the Arteluce company in 1939 in Milan. Its pu...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
Chandelier Model 2042/3 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, 1960s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Milan, IT
Chandelier 2042/3 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce.
Chrome metal frame, transparent glass globes.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
20th Century Gino Sarfatti Set of 6 Wall Lamps Mod. 36 for Arteluce, 1950s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Turin, Turin
Gino Sarfatti was an Italian designer and businessman born in 1912 in Venice. After studying aeronaval engineering in Genova, he founded the Arteluce company in 1939 in Milan. Its purpose is lighting fixtures, lighting applications, furniture components as well as the study and manufacture of furniture.
He won many international awards, including, in 1954 and 1955, the Compasso d'oro, with models 559 and 1055.
In December 1973, the year he won the Gold Medal at the 15th Triennale, he sold the company, which is no longer in operation today.
Here we have set of 6 wall lamps...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
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...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Brass
Gino Sarfatti For Arteluce Table Lamp in Green Lacquered Metal
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, floor lamp model 1102/D 'garden light', lacquered metal, glass, Italy, 1975
The frame of this eccentric light sculpture is executed in a green colored metal mesh, a material that has frequently been used for garden furnishings...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
20th Century Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Chandelier Mod. 2097/30, 1960s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Turin, Turin
One of the most significant figures in the world of Italian design of the second half of the 20th century was Gino Sarfatti.
Venetian by birth and Genoese by training, Sarfatti becam...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Brass
Gino Sarfatti, Floor Lamp, Aluminum, Chrome Metal, Arteluce, Italy, 1950s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in High Point, NC
A tall floor lamp / uplight, designed and produced by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, 1950s. In chome plated metal, lacquered metal, and Aluminium.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Adjustable Sconce #149/N by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in New York, NY
Brass wall mount and extended arm. Black painted metal shade and counter weight. Height can be adjusted and arm moves from side to side. Manufacturers label on inside of shade.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Brass
Paolo Rizzatto & Gino Sarfatti Table Lamp Model 613 Produced by Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Paolo Rizzatto
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Table lamp model 613 designed by Paolo Rizzatto & Gino Sarfatti. Produced by Arteluce in Italy.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Plastic, Fiberglass
20th Century Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Set of 3 Wall Lamps in Brass and Plexi
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Turin, Turin
One of the most significant figures in the world of Italian design of the second half of the 20th century was Gino Sarfatti.
Venetian by birth and Genoese by training, Sarfatti becam...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Brass
20th Century Gino Sarfatti Arteluce Set of 3 Floor Lamps Mod. 1073 '50s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Turin, Turin
One of the most significant figures in the world of Italian design of the second half of the 20th century was Gino Sarfatti.
Venetian by birth and Genoese by training, Sarfatti became Milanese in 1935, first collaborating with the lighting company Lumen and then founding Arteluce Società Anonima A.L. It was, however, the terrible period of racial laws and it was therefore necessary to wait until the end of the war for the company to begin full-scale production. In 1949, a factory was opened in Milan.
It was here that Sarfatti succeeded in interpreting the taste of its customers: if a lamp on display was requested, several pieces of that model were made, without creating prototypes and never exceeding a few dozen copies. The store then became the meeting place for a refined group of architects and decorators who would use Sarfatti's lighting in the furnishings of the Milanese bourgeoisie.
Here set of 3 floor...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Iron, Metal
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Pendant Lamp
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, pendant, aluminum, metal, Italy, 1950.
Beautiful and sober pendant lamp designed by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce in the 1950s....
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
1957 Set of 3 Spot Lamps by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Signed AL
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in London, GB
Adjustable reflector and base in polished aluminium.
Arm and joint in polished chrome plate and base black painted
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Aluminum
Gino Sarfatti, Floor Lamp, Perspex, Cast Iron, Metal, Chrome Arteluce Italy 1973
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in High Point, NC
A rare floor lamp designed by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce in 1973. Features cast iron, lacquered metal, chrome metal, and it's original perspex lampshade. Labeled.
Other designers ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal, Chrome, Iron
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Illuminated Wall-Mounted Display Console
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, display console, metal, glass, brass, Italy, 1970s
Two vertical wall mounts in black metal hold a glass shelf. At the end of the fixtures two adjustable ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Gino Sarfatti Sconces #238-3
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in New York, NY
Rare Pair of Sconces #238-3 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. Black enameled steel frames with aluminum caps. Smoked glass globes and Edison sockets. Newly created circular mounting pl...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
Set of Two Wall Lamps Model 238/2 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, 1960s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Milan, IT
Set of two large wall lamps model 238/2 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce.
Transparent glass globes and a thin black metal frame.
Please note picture shows a model with three spheres not...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of Sconces by Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce, Italy, circa 1956
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in New York, NY
Each sconce composed of a burnished brass structure with two arms, shielded by a white bent acrylic shade.
OUR REFERENCE N10128
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Brass
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Three-Light Pendant
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in New York, NY
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce pendant chandelier with three glass globe lights hung on black perforated enameled metal structures suspended from three-arm canopy. The glass globes are b...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
1970s Cobra Desk Lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A black gooseneck 'Cobra' desk lamp resembling a hose that forms a coil base.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Rare Floor Lamp Model 1025
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in New York, NY
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce rare floor lamp model 1025 with adjustable tubular polished brass stem wrapped in leather ending on tripod base with custom silk Empire shade with gold ribbon details, Italy, 1946-1948. This floor lamp is a very rare model, classic in its simplicity and form, and elegant in its subtle details.
Beautifully restored original leather and rewired to U.S. standards.
Sold with certificate of authenticity from Sandra Severi Sarfatti...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Brass
Set of Two Metal Ceiling Lamps by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, 1960s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Milan, IT
Rare set of two ceiling lamps model 232G by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce.
White lacquered frame and aluminum shade.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
Gino Sarfatti Chandeliere
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in New York, NY
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce five-light hanging fixture #2095. Cascading light with five glass globes hanging at different heights. Each orb contains 1 Edison sized socket. A beautiful...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Metal
Adjustable Desk Lamp by Gino Sarfatti
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A desk lamp having a sculptural white textured enameled pedestal base supporting a chrome gooseneck stem and cylindrical shade.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Materials
Enamel
Table Lamp Model 600/c by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Dallas, TX
Small table lamp model 600/c designed by by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Gino Sarfatti Lighting
Gino Sarfatti lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Gino Sarfatti lighting are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gino Sarfatti lighting, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 331 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 165 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original lighting by Gino Sarfatti were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider lighting by Barovier&Toso, Carlo Nason, and Arteluce. Prices for Gino Sarfatti lighting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $321 and can go as high as $187,046, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,833.