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.
Large Flush Mount by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Model 155, circa 1950s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
Rare and large lacquered metal and brass flush mount by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, circa 1950s, (Model 155) Socket: 3 x e27 or e26 (US) for standard screw bulbs. In a very go...
Metal, Brass
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/6 Opaline Glass Ceiling Light in Black for Astep
By Gino Sarfatti, Astep
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/6 opaline glass ceiling light in black for Astep. This Astep re-edition of Gino Sarfatti's iconic design faithfully pays homage to his minimalistic yet inno...
Steel
1960s Gino Sarfatti Seguso Bubble Glass Wall or Ceiling Lamp for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce, Archimede Seguso
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1960s Gino Sarfatti Seguso Bubble Glass Wall or Ceiling Lamp for Arteluce Executed in hand-blown bubbled Seguso glass on a black painted metal mount. Th...
Metal
Gino Sarfatti Model 3001 Ceiling Lamps for Arteluce, Italy, 1950s (Set of 3)
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Three circular ceiling lamps make up the group, two at forty centimetres in diameter and a smaller one at thirty, each no more than seven centimetres deep. The white-lacquered alumin...
Aluminum
20th Century, Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Ceiling Light mod 178 NT
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Gino Sarfatti was an Italian designer and businessman born in 1912 in Venice. After studying aeronaval engineering in Genoa, he founded the Arteluce company in 1939 in Milan. Its pur...
Brass, Steel
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/3 Opaline Glass Ceiling Light in Champagne for Astep
By Gino Sarfatti, Astep
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/3 opaline glass ceiling light in champagne for Astep. This Astep re-edition of Gino Sarfatti's iconic design faithfully pays homage to his minimalistic yet...
Steel
Gino Sarfatti, Flush Mount, Acrylic, Metal, Italy, 1950s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in High Point, NC
A white acrylic and black-enameled metal flush mount designed by Gino Sarfatti and produced by Arteluce, Italy, 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 5” H x 25” W x 14” D Bulb Speci...
Metal
Gino Sarfatti rare set of ceiling lights made for the Milanese residence
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Vigevano, PV
Gino Sarfatti rare set of ceiling lights made for the Milanese residence. These two lamps were part of the furnishings of an apartment in centra...
Brass
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/3 Opaline Glass Ceiling Light in Black for Astep
By Astep, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/3 opaline glass ceiling light in black for Astep. This Astep re-edition of Gino Sarfatti's iconic design faithfully pays homage to his minimalistic yet inno...
Steel
3055 by Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Milano, IT
Rare ceiling or wall lamp, model 3055, designed by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce in 1962. This lamp was later used by BBPR to create the famous chandeliers. It accommodates two E27 bu...
Aluminum
Brass & Glass Wall or Ceiling Light by Gino Sarfatti
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in San Francisco, CA
Brass & Glass Wall or Ceiling Light by Gino Sarfatti. Rewired for US. Single socket.
Brass
20th Century, Gino Sarfatti Pendant Lamp Moon mod. 2130
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Gino Sarfatti was an Italian designer and businessman born in 1912 in Venice. After studying aeronaval engineering in Genoa, he founded the Arteluce company in 1939 in Milan. Its pur...
Aluminum
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/9 Opaline Glass Ceiling Light in Champagne for Astep
By Gino Sarfatti, Astep
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/9 Opaline Glass Ceiling Light in Champagne for Astep. This Astep re-edition of Gino Sarfatti's iconic design faithfully pays homage to his minimalistic yet ...
Steel
"Model 3010" Semi-Flush Mount Light by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, 1959
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and rare semi-flush mount ceiling light model 3010, designed by Gino Sarfatti in 1959 for Arteluce. The fixture features a refined opaline glass diffuser encircled by a disti...
Aluminum
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/9 Opaline Glass Ceiling Light in Black for Astep
By Gino Sarfatti, Astep
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/9 Opaline Glass Ceiling Light in Black for Astep. This Astep re-edition of Gino Sarfatti's iconic design faithfully pays homage to his minimalistic yet inno...
Steel
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/6 Opaline Glass Ceiling Light in Champagne for Astep
By Astep, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model 2042/6 opaline glass ceiling light in champagne for Astep. This Astep re-edition of Gino Sarfatti's iconic design faithfully ...
Steel
Gino Sarfatti Ceiling Lamp Model 3001/40 Arteluce, 1950
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Modernist Model 3001/40 ceiling lamps designed by Gino Sarfatti and manufactured by Arteluce in Italy in 1950. Nice minimal design with the rounded shape and the plexiglass shade tha...
Metal
White Metal 5-Lights Wall Lamp Mod. 50 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, '68
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This wall lamp was designed by Gino Sarfatti in 1968 for bath mirror and it belongs to the early production. The simplicity of its design and its rarity al...
Metal
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.
Metal
Model 211 Wall lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, 1950s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Wall lamp Model 211 designed by Gino Sarfatti in 1955 and manufactured by Arteluce. Model 211 consists of an aluminum base with a screen that rotates around a tubular light bulb of ...
Aluminum
Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconce in Black for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconce in Black for Arteluce Executed in painted aluminum and custom fabricated period-styled brass backplates designed to mount ove...
Brass, Aluminum
1950s Gino Sarfatti 'Tricolore' grey table lamp for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1950s Gino Sarfatti 'Tricolore' grey table lamp for Arteluce. A striking yet minimalistic table lamp designed by Gino Sarfatti, circa 1952. This extremely rare and iconic design is...
Brass, Metal
$1,939
H 1.78 in W 25.6 in D 2.76 in
White Metal 5-Lights Wall Lamp Mod. 50 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, '68
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This wall lamp was designed by Gino Sarfatti in 1968 for bath mirror and it belongs to the early production. The simplicity of its design and its rarity al...
Metal
$5,524
H 11.42 in W 28.75 in D 25.99 in
Gino Sarfatti Ceiling Lamp Model 2042/6, Opaline Glass, Astep, Italy
By Astep, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Gino Sarfatti Lamp Model 2042/6. Champagne Mount. Manufactured by Astep. Model 2042/6 Design by Gino Sarfatti With Le Sfere Plafone, Model 2042/6 from 1963, another of Gino Sa...
Steel
Model 50 Wall Lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, 1968
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Off-white lacquered Model 50 wall lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, designed in 1968 and manufactured in the 1970s. Marco Romanelli and Sandra Severi describe the wall lamp in '...
Metal
Single Seguso Glass Pendant by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
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 per Arteluce Lampada da Parete "SP15", Italia 1960s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Naples, IT
Lampada da parete modello SP15, disegnata da Gino Sarfatti per Arteluce in Italia negli anni 1950/1960. È realizzate in metallo cromato lucido e ha una struttura molto solida e fun...
Metal
Modell 2133 Ceiling Lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, 1972
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Hagenbach, DE
This stunning Model 2133 pendant light duo by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce (1972). It is a masterful study in minimalist design—a fluted white lacquered aluminum disc, suspended effort...
Metal
Gino Sarfatti Wall Lamp Sconce for Arteluce, Italy 1950s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular and iconic sconce designed by Gino Sarfatti and Archimede Seguso and produced by Arteluce in Italy during the 1950s. This incredibly elegant and unique sconce is in fabu...
Steel, Chrome
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Mod. 36 Wall Lamp, Italy 1955
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Naples, IT
Wall sconce Mod. "36" in chromed metal designed by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy 1955. The lamp is structured with a horizontal chromed arm connected to a square metal plate, wh...
Metal
$2,290
H 5.91 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
White Lucite & Black Metal Flush Mount, Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce, Italy 1950
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Mid century flush mount designed by Gino Sarfatti attr. for Arteluce. The ceiling fixture is made of a white lucite overlay with black metal rods and frame. The lamp emits a lot of i...
Metal
Gino Sarfatti 2042/6 Flushmount
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Flushmount by the renown Italian designer Gino Sarfatti, model 2042/6 made of an enameled metal structure, frosted glass globes and aluminum diffusers.
Aluminum, Steel
Gino Sarfatti flush mount model 3001/40 Arteluce Italy 1950
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This is for a highly refined minimalist ceiling-mounted flush lamp, model 3001/40, a minimalist design by Gino Sarfatti, produced by Arteluce in Italy, 1950. This flush mounts is a f...
Aluminum
Sold
H 11.03 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
' Le Sfere Plafone 2042/3 ceiling lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce 1960s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
Gino Sarfatti was an Italian designer and a pioneer in lighting design. In 1939, he founded Arteluce, through which he developed many innovative lighting models. Sarfatti combined te...
Metal
Sold
H 7.09 in Dm 19.69 in
Gino Sarfatti Model 155 Ceiling Lamp for Arteluce, Italy, 1950, Brass & White
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Almelo, NL
Gino Sarfatti Model 155 Ceiling Lamp for Arteluce, Italy, 1950, Brass & White Iconic mid-century Italian design by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, with brass diffuser and elegant dish ...
Aluminum, Brass
Sold
H 3.55 in Dm 9.85 in
Red Metal and Glass Ceiling Light model 3055 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, 1962
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1962. Designed by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. It is made in red varnished aluminum and features a frosted moulded prismatic gold diffuser. It is a vintage piece, the...
Aluminum, Brass
Gino Sarfatti 3055 ceiling lamps Arteluce Italy 1962
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Introducing the iconic ceiling lamps, model 3055, designed by Gino Sarfatti and manufactured by Arteluce in Italy, 1962. These classic lamps are a fine example of Sarfatti's innovati...
Metal
Gino Sarfatti Model 155 for Arteluce 1950s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Munich, DE
Rare ceiling lamp or ceiling light manufactured by the famous lighting company Arteluce and designed by Gino Sarfatti in the 1950s. The Model 155 consists of a bowl-shaped ceiling la...
Aluminum, Brass
Gino Sarfatti Model 155 for Arteluce 1950s
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Munich, DE
Rare ceiling lamp or ceiling light manufactured by the famous lighting company Arteluce and designed by Gino Sarfatti in the 1950s. The Model 155 consists of a bowl-shaped ceiling la...
Aluminum, Brass
Single Model 3032/F Flush Mount by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Single Model 3032/F Flush Mount by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, in 1954. Acrylic rectangle diffusers paired with black enameled rod armatures. Thi...
Metal
Model 3020 Flush Mount by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model 3020 Flush Mount by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. Italy circa the 1960s. Molded lucite diffuser with a center dimple; adding dimensional intrigue. The l...
Aluminum, Cut Steel
Sold
H 10.63 in Dm 23.63 in
Arteluce Brown Metal & Sandblasted Glass '60s 2042/3 Ceiling Lamp by G. Sarfatti
By Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Brown/bronze aluminum structure with 3 sandblasted glass shades. This ceiling lamp was designed by Gino Sarfatti in 1963 and produced by Arteluce. this item is original and belongs t...
Aluminum
Gino Sarfatti 2042/9 Flushmount
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Flushmount by the renown Italian designer Gino Sarfatti, model 2042/9 made of an enameled metal structure, frosted glass globes and aluminum diffusers.
Aluminum