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Couple of Light ball sconces by Achille and Piergiacomo Castiglioni

About the Item

The Appliques Light Ball, designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in the 1960s, stands as a radiant testament to the innovative brilliance of mid-century Italian lighting design. Achille Castiglioni, a luminary in the world of industrial design, crafted these wall-mounted luminaires with a focus on simplicity, functionality, and a touch of whimsical charm. The Light Ball appliques represent a departure from conventional lighting fixtures, showcasing Castiglioni's commitment to redefining the boundaries of design. The 1960s marked a period of experimentation and creativity, and these appliques encapsulate the essence of the era, embodying the shift towards sleek, modern aesthetics. The design of the Light Ball is characterized by a playful and organic form. Each applique features a white opalescent glass sphere delicately balanced on a slender metal stem, creating a visual harmony between simplicity and sophistication. The spherical diffuser disperses light in a soft and even manner, casting a warm and inviting glow that transforms any space it graces. The ingenious design of the Light Ball not only prioritizes aesthetics but also emphasizes adaptability. The wall-mounted configuration allows for versatile placement, making it an ideal choice for various settings within a home or commercial space. Whether installed in a living room, bedroom, or hallway, these appliques add a touch of timeless elegance and contemporary flair. The use of high-quality materials, including opaline glass and metal, further enhances the enduring appeal of the Light Ball. Castiglioni's meticulous attention to detail ensures that these luminaires transcend mere functionality, becoming sculptural pieces that contribute to the overall aesthetic of the environment. The Light Ball series reflects Castiglioni's knack for blending art and design. The appliques are not merely sources of illumination but expressive elements that engage with the surrounding architecture. The clean lines and organic shape create a dialogue between form and function, offering an aesthetic experience that goes beyond mere utility. In the context of Flos, a brand renowned for its commitment to groundbreaking design and technological innovation, the Light Ball series holds a special place. It represents a collaborative effort between designer and manufacturer to bring forth lighting solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible. As iconic representatives of mid-century Italian lighting design, the Light Ball appliques by Achille Castiglioni for Flos remain relevant and coveted in contemporary design discourse. Their enduring popularity is a testament to the timelessness of Castiglioni's vision, where simplicity, form, and function converge to create lighting fixtures that are as relevant today as they were in the dynamic and transformative 1960s.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11.82 in (30 cm)Diameter: 15.75 in (40 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Power Source:
    Plug-in
  • Voltage:
    110-150v,220-240v
  • Lampshade:
    Not Included
  • Style:
    Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Unkown
  • Condition:
    Minor fading.
  • Seller Location:
    Milano, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU6835237244042
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Dino Gavina and the small Eisenkeil manufacturing facility in Merano, had already been creating furniture alongside design masters such as Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Afra and Tobia Scarpa. But by the early ‘60s, Gavina became convinced the time had come to create new lamps. Using the same technology – conceived in the USA and tested at Eisenkeil – used for the Cocoon lampthe Castiglioni brothers and the Scarpa duo began creating lamps such as the Taraxacum or the Fantasma, with many other beautiful and surprising lamps to follow. And so, from day one, Flos was already reinventing the IDEA of artificial lighting. Achille Castiglioni (born February 16, 1918, Milan–died December 2, 2002, Milan) was a prolific furniture, lighting, and product Italian designer renown for his ironic, joyful, creative and functional designs that, at times, intersected with ideas explored by conceptual artists. Achille Castiglioni was born into a family with deep appreciation for the arts, as he was the third son of sculptor and coin engraver Giannino Castiglioni and his wife Livia Bolla. He first studied the classics at the Liceo Classico Giuseppe Parini, but then switched to study art at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan. In 1937, he decided to follow the steps of his two elder brothers, architects Livio and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, by enrolling in the Faculty of Architecture at the Politecnico di Milano, graduating in 1944–after having to interrupt his studies when he was stationed in Greece and Sicily during World War II. In 1944, immediately after graduating, Achille Castiglioni joined his brothers Livio and Pier Giacomo in the design studio that they had founded with Livio’s classmate Luigi Caccia Dominioni in 1937 in Milan. Fortunately for Achille, from the very beginning Livio and Pier Giacomo decided to focus almost entirely on designing exhibitions, furniture, housewares, and appliances since architectural commissions were difficult to come by during the war. This product-design focus, and the deep fraternal bound among the three brothers, would later allow the young Achille to experiment early in his career with emerging techniques and new materials that could communicate a fresh aesthetic sensibility suited for the positive outlook of the post-war European market. The Castiglioni brothers’ important collaboration with Phonola and Brionvega In 1940, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Livio Castiglioni, and Luigi Caccia Dominioni, in collaboration withe the Phonola company, presented in the VII Triennale di Milano (Milan Triennial), titled Exhibition of the Radio, a research study of radio devices that included the Fimi Phonola 547 radio, the first radio encased in Bakelite instead of wood. Shortly after the exhibition, Luigi Caccia Dominioni suspended his professional activity to serve in the military during World War II and left the studio. The development of the FImi Phonola 547 radio would prove fruitful for the three brothers, as it allowed Livio Castiglioni to cement his role as the leading design consultant for Phonola from 1940 until 1960, and for Brionvega, from 1960 until 1964. These relationships brought in further collaboration among the three brothers, and would eventually result in several designs for radio and sound appliances with innovative materials and shapes for which Achille Castiglioni played a key role, such as the RR 226 stereo system for Brinovega (1965), the radio phonograph RR 126 for Brinovega (1965), and the radio and record player RR 128 for Brionvega (1966) In 1952, Livio decided to build his own practice, independent from Achille and Pier Giacomo, to pursue a deeper exploration of radio waves, music, and technology. But the three brothers would continued to collaborate closely in several projects, and the partnership between Achille and Pier Giacomo became so tight that from 1952 until 1968, when Pier Giacomo died, they co-authored most of their designs. Achille Castiglioni Long Career as Light Designer During this period, the Castiglioni brothers participated in the Italian Exhibition of Furniture (RIMA), where they successfully introduced a series of curved-plywood furniture, and presented important designs, such as the Tubino lamp (1949), originally produced by Italian light maker Arteluce from 1949 until 1974, and reintroduced by Flos since the late 1970s; and the Luminator lamp (1955), originally produced by Gilardi & Barzaghi, but reintroduced by Flos in the late 1960s. A new, successful, and long-lasting collaboration developed in 1960, when Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni were reached by entrepreneurial Italian designer Dino Gavina and business man Arturo Eisenkeil with the IDEA to create a completely new kind of lighting fixtures utilizing a polyamide. The Material, which they called “cocoon,” in the hands of the Castiglioni brothers would become a popular and iconic innovation in the 1960s and serve as the successful foundation of Italian lighting company Flos–founded by Gavina and Eisenkeil in 1962. Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni designed a series of “cocoon” lights utilizing the spray-on polyamide plastic as a coating layer onto a metal frame. Among the most popular Castiglioni “cocoon” lights are: the Taraxacum and the Viscontea ceiling lamps (1960), and the Gatto table lamp (1961). Other of the important lamp designs by Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni for Flos are the Beehive -or Splügen Braü lamp (1961), Toio –or Toy lamp...
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