Mario Bellini "Area 50" Pendant for Artemide, 1974
View Similar Items
Mario Bellini "Area 50" Pendant for Artemide, 1974
About the Item
- Creator:Artemide (Manufacturer),Mario Bellini (Designer)
- Design:Area Ceiling LightArea Series
- Dimensions:Height: 9.85 in (25 cm)Width: 18.51 in (47 cm)Depth: 18.51 in (47 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Rewired: Newly rewired. Wear consistent with age and use. The piece is in good vintage condition, with only minor age-related signs of wear. Do expect some discolouration in line with age and slight imperfections.
- Seller Location:London Road, Baldock, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2364328021882
Mario Bellini
Milan-born architect and designer Mario Bellini just may be the closest thing to a modern-day Renaissance man: His creative output spans genres, from electronics to furniture to architecture to cars, comprising iconic designs in each. He has been the recipient of multiple prestigious Compasso d’Oro design awards, and more than 20 of his works are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Born in 1935, Bellini studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan before founding his own firm in his native city in the early 1960s. He soon branched out beyond architecture, however, first for the tech manufacturer Olivetti, where he served as chief industrial design consultant from 1963 to 1991. During that time, Bellini oversaw the design of some of Olivetti’s most popular typewriters.
His penchant for electronic design didn’t stop there: Bellini also designed cameras for Fuji, televisions for Brionvega and a slew of audio devices for Yamaha, then served as design consultant for Renault and devised the interior of the 1980 Lancia Trevi for Fiat. Meanwhile, his architecture work spans continents, including such modern gems as the Museum of Islamic Arts at the Louvre, the National Gallery of Victoria extension in Melbourne, the Dubai Creek Complex and the Milan Convention Centre in his hometown.
And then there’s the furniture: Over the last 70 years, Bellini has designed office furniture for Vitra; lamps for Artemide, Erco and FLOS; porcelain for Rosenthal and long-admired sofas and other seating for Kartell, Natuzzi, B&B Italia, Cassina and more.
His oft-imitated 1977 Cab chair for Cassina, comprising 16 individual pieces of saddle leather that create a “skin” over a minimal metal frame, remains one of the manufacturer’s best sellers today. His pudgy-legged, round tables for Cassina foreshadow Faye Toogood’s widely loved Roly Poly line. His postmodern Summa armchairs for Kartell, as well as his elegant Chiara floor lamp, still lure collectors on vintage furniture websites.
Bellini’s most famous contribution to furniture design, though, may be his 1970 Camaleonda sofa for B&B Italia (then C&B Italia). An entrant to the 1972 MoMA show “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape,” the seat takes its name from the Italian words for chameleon and wave. Its bulbous, modular form makes it infinitely flexible. The sofa was a runaway hit at the show and, once discontinued, remained so popular among vintage dealers that B&B Italia reissued it in 2020 with all recycled materials and interchangeable seat covers. “Of all the objects I have designed, Camaleonda is perhaps the best in terms of its sense of freedom,” Bellini said.
Browse an expansive collection of Mario Bellini furniture — including dining tables, armchairs, mid-century sofas and more — today on 1stDibs.
Artemide
Artemide is an iconic firm in the design world. The mid-century Italian company is one of the best known lighting manufacturers and its award-winning fixtures are held in museum collections everywhere. Vintage Artemide table lamps, pendants, ceiling lamps and other lighting represent a thoughtful merge between functionalism and eye-catching design.
Artemide, which is based in Pregnana, was founded by Ernesto Gismondi and Sergio Mazza in 1959. During that year, Mazza created the first table lamp for the manufacturer — a modernist work in glass, marble and metal that he called the Alfa. Gismondi, who studied aeronautical engineering at the Polytechnic University of Milan and missile engineering at Rome’s Professional School of Engineering, applied his knowledge of cutting edge technology and materials such as fiberglass resin to Artemide’s designs for lighting and furniture.
In 1967, Artemide won Italy’s Compasso d'Oro design award for its Eclisse table lamp, which was designed by Vico Magistretti two years earlier. Other award-winning fixtures include the Tizio table lamp designed by Richard Sapper and the Tolomeo table lamp.
Designed by Michele de Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina, the Tolomeo featured the patented George Carwardine mechanism used in the original Anglepoise lamp. De Lucchi would later be recruited to join visionary postmodern design collective the Memphis Group. Artemide’s Gismondi purchased the brand after founder Ettore Sottsass dismantled the collective in 1988, and it was bought by Alberto Bianchi Albrici in 1996.
Artemide’s list of design, innovation, sustainability and other industry awards is long and distinguished. The firm continues to actively collaborate with internationally revered designers and seek out new talent through workshops with design schools. The company’s deeply held values — energy-saving lighting, sustainable design and ethically sourced materials — characterize its current offerings, and Artemide furniture and lighting can be found in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and other institutions.
On 1stDibs, find Artemide tables, seating, floor lamps, chandeliers and more.
- Hans-Agne Jakobsson for Markaryd Model T601/M Pendant in Light Blue, 1960sBy Hans-Agne Jakobsson, MarkyardLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireA Hans-Agne Jakobsson for Markaryd brass and ivory silk fringe model T601/M pendant, 1960s A Hans-Agne Jakobsson for Markaryd blue colored silk fringed pendant with brass frame, da...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
$1,310 Sale Price40% Off - An Original Mario Marenco Easy Chair for Arflex, 1970s, ItalyBy Arflex, Mario MarencoLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireAn original Mario Marenco easy chair for Arflex dating from the 1970s. Featuring, squidgy, oversized cushions which are cleverly secured to appear a...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Plywood
- A Mathieu Matégot Coat Rack ‘Ideaal’ Model 110 for Artimeta Soest, NetherlandsBy Mathieu Matégot, ArtimetaLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireAn ‘Ideaal’ Model 110 coat rack designed by Mathieu Matégot for Dutch company Artimeta Soest during the 1950s. The set retains all hooks and coat hangers and is the larger of the two...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsSteel
- Pair of 6.5ft Giant Column Lamps by Andre Cazenave for Singleton Italy, 1970'sBy Singleton, Andre CazenaveLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireA very hard-to-find, highly collectable and impressive pair of column lamps by French designer André Cazenave for Singleton, Italy, 1970s. Constructed of fibreglass and ground pow...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsPlastic, Fiberglass
- Cees Braakman CB05 Birch Chest of Drawers for UMS Pastoe, 1952, NetherlandsBy Cees Braakman, PastoeLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireA Cees Braakman CB05 Birch chest of drawers for UMS Pastoe, designed 1952, Netherlands. A Cees Braakman designed CB05 birch chest of drawers, part of the Combex range. Consisting ...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsBirch, Plywood
- Philippe Starck "Pepper Young" Coffee Table for Disform, 1983, SpainBy Philippe Starck, DisformLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireRare and with a great look, "Pepper Young" coffee table by Philippe Starck. Manufactured in the 1980's by Disform, Spain. The feet are metal with granu...Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMetal
- 'Area 50' Pendants by Mario Bellini for ArtemideBy Mario BelliniLocated in Los Angeles, CA'Area 50' Pendants by Mario Bellini for Artemide. Designed and manufactured in Italy, 1976. Iconic model from Bellini consist of a counter donut weight allowing for variable adjustme...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsSteel
$3,800 / item - Area 50 HangingLamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, 1960sBy Mario Bellini, ArtemideLocated in Lasne, BEPaper and plastic hanging lamp by Mario Bellini, model: Area 50. Maximum height with cable: 225 cm. Wear due to time and ageCategory
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsPaper, Plastic
- Area 50 Hanging Lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, 1960sBy Artemide, Mario BelliniLocated in Lasne, BEPaper and plastic hanging lamp by Mario Bellini, model: Area 50. Maximum height with cable: 124 cm. Wear due to time and ageCategory
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsPlastic, Paper
- Mario Bellini Counterweight Pendant Lamp Area 50 by Artemide, Italy, 1976By Mario Bellini, ArtemideLocated in Vienna, ATCounterweight lamp Area 50 by Marco Bellini for Artemide, Italy, 1976 Rare Mario Bellini area counterweight pendant lamp. Very intelligently designed counterbalance lamp in good vin...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsPlastic, Parchment Paper
- Area table lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, Italy 1974.By Artemide, Mario BelliniLocated in Athens, AttikiArea table lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, Italy 1974. Very good conditionCategory
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsPaper, Ceramic
- Area 50 Table lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, 1970sBy Artemide, Mario BelliniLocated in Rotterdam, NLArea 50 table lamp, designed by Mario Bellini and manufactured by Artemide in the 1970s. The lamp consists of a white matt porcelain base (18 cm / 7 inch high) and a cream coloured ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsPorcelain, Textile