Recalling sculptor Constantin Brancusi's audacious forms, the brass stem of the Cobra table lamp, created by Italian designer Angelo Lelii (1911–79), casts a long and slender shadow beneath a magnetized adjustable sphere, or “socket,” where the bulb is positioned. The curious socket fixture is tucked inside a cobra-like “hood” that gave the lamp its name. Lelii’s revolutionary 1962 design allowed for light to be directed according to preference, and a dimming switch controls the intensity of the light. It was among the first lamps to use low voltage, thanks to the transformer housed in its base. As one of the best-known examples of postwar Italian lighting, it encapsulated the design ethos and emphasis on innovation long associated with Arredoluce, the lighting company Lelii founded in 1943.
Raised in Monza — where he would also begin to work with lighting in the late 1930s — Lelii encountered considerable success as a designer after several of his lamps appeared in Domus, the design journal cofounded by Giò Ponti. Arredoluce was a prolific firm, and counted Ponti, Ettore Sottsass Jr. and other well-known figures as designers, with many contributions coming from Lelii himself. Famous for a free-flowing exchange between factory workers and designers, Arredoluce helped define Italy’s modernist lighting industry, alongside companies such as Arteluce and Oluce.
Lelii’s simple and spare Cobra fell out of production, as did the company’s other designs, after Arredoluce shuttered following the maker’s death. Today, the lamp remains a striking encapsulation of the minimalist, technically advanced design principles he cultivated there. Demand for Lelii’s provocative and sculptural work has only increased over the years.
21st Century Cavalletto Floor Lamp, Angelo Lelii, 2019, Style of 1950s, Italy
By Angelo Lelii
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Brass easel floor lamp by Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce. Tripod base with adjustable mounts. Light arm is also adjustable. Aluminum spotlight varnish...
Metal, Brass
Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce, Italy, 1950s
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
There is something almost airborne about this floor lamp. From a flat, organically shaped marble base, a slender red-lacquered stem rises vertically, meeting a long brass arm that ex...
Metal, Brass
$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
Floor Lamp in Manner of Angelo Lelii
By Angelo Lelii
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Angelo Leilli was prominent Italian designer who created number of iconic Lighting designs during the 20 th century. His work is sleek minimalist astatic...
Metal, Brass
Rare Floor Lamp, Italy, 1950s
By Angelo Lelii, Stilnovo
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare floor lamp, in the style of Angelo Lelii, Italy, 950s. Marble, brass and glass. In good original vintage condition with some signs of usa and ag...
Aluminum, Brass
$19,900
H 88.59 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in
Angelo Lelii brass and metal floor lamp model 12383 by Arredoluce, Italy, 1950s
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A floor lamp in painted metal and hammered brass, marked Arredoluce Monza, model 12383, design by Angelo Lelii, 1950s. There are objects that captivate and draw attention, enchantin...
Metal, Brass
Angelo Lelii Arredoluce standard floor lamp Italy 1956
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This minimalist floor lamp, designed by Angelo Lelii and manufactured by Arredoluce in Italy in 1956, is an exquisite example of mid-century lighting design. As an early creation by ...
Marble, Metal
$17,253
H 70.87 in W 47.25 in D 31.5 in
Arredoluce 'Triennale' Floor Lamp, designed by Angelo Lelii, circa 1950
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
"Triennale" floor lamp, designed by Angelo Lelii An iconic mid-century classic introduced circa 1950, this example of 50's production by Lelii's own Arredoluce Company based in Monz...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Italian Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli
By Angelo Lelii
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful and rare floor lamp by Angelo Lelli, Model 12555 Occhio. Metal and brass with marble base. Italy, 1956.
Metal, Brass
Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce 'Siluro' Floor Lamp
By Arredoluce, Angelo Lelii
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, floor lamp 'Siluro', model '12628', Carrara marble, coated steel, brass, plexiglass, Italy, circa 1957 This floor lamp, designed by Angelo Lelii for Arr...
Carrara Marble, Brass, Steel
Angelo Lelii Floor Lamp 12923 Vogue Arredoluce, Italy 1960s
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Munich, DE
Minimalistic floor Lamp model 12923 Vogue designed by Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce, Italy 1960s. Elegant design with a spherical lamp made of nickel-plated brass, a nickel-plated shaf...
Metal
21st Century Floor Lamp with Cane and Marble
By Merve Kahraman
Located in Istanbul, TR
Cassini Lamps are named after the famous “Cassini–Huygens” Mission which was a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to send a probe to study the planet Saturn and its system. Cassini-Huygens has been described as a "Mission of firsts", that has revolutionized human understanding of the Saturn system, including its moons and rings, and our understanding of where life might be found in the Solar System. Being inspired by this incredible Mission and planet Saturn, the designer created these exceptional lighting...
Cane
$6,900
H 70.62 in Dm 21 in
Angelo Lelii, Floor Lamp, Brass, Leatherette, Marble, Fabric, Arredoluce, 1950s
By Angelo Lelii
Located in High Point, NC
A brass, leatherette, marble and fabric floor lamp designed by Angelo Lelii and produced by Arredoluce, Italy, c. 1955. Sold with Lampshade. Dimensions of Floor Lamp with Lampshad...
Brass
"Cobra" Table Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cobra table lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1960s. Brass shade, encasing a magnetic, steel eyeball. Original cord. Takes one E27 Europe...
Metal, Brass, Steel
Cobra Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, 1960s
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Echt, NL
Beautiful Arredoluce 'Cobra' lamp in good condition. Design: Angelo Lelli, Italy, 1960s. Crème lacquered metal base. Pivoting magnitized oxide steel ball which holds the socket ...
Metal, Brass
Cobra Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A beautiful example, it benefits from a rewire with new transformer, so noww uses a 12V halogen bulb and the click down on/off switch with turn to dim works fine!
Brass, Steel
Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce Cobra Table Lamp or Eye Lamp
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Kansas City, MO
Angelo Lelii cobra table lamp, Arredoluce, Italy, 1964. Chrome-plated brass, enameled aluminum, blackened steel This lamp has been registered in t...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Angelo Lelli Cobra Light Sculpture, Lamp, 1964 by Arredoluce, 1st Edition
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Munster, NRW
Legendary table lamp "Cobra" by Angelo Lelli, mod° 12919 made by Arredoluce, 1964 stem in chromed steel, base in white lacquered metal, Italy. 1st series edition, with orignal l...
Chrome
