Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce, table lamp, model '12401', brass, enameled aluminum and brass, marble, Italy, circa 1952

This desk lamp, designed by Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce, stands as a quietly ingenious piece of mid-century lighting. One where form and mechanical innovation are beautifully intertwined.

At first glance, the lamps polished brass, marble base, and brown painted aluminum shade offers the sleek, modernist language typical of Italian design in the 1950s. Yet, it is in the mechanics subtle, efficient, and unusually refined that Lelii leaves his true mark.

The upper arm is affixed with a spherical joint that is connected to a telescopic tie-rod, allowing for near-effortless positioning. The shade gently tapers to a fine lip, which directs light in a focused, downward gesture, and its adjustability further underscores the designers intent to create a lighting object that responds fluidly to its user. Leliis design stands out for its mechanical elegance and clarity of intention.

Biography

Paolo Angelo Lelii (1911-1979) was born in Ancona, Italy. After his studies at the Superior Institute of Industrial Art, Milan, he lived and worked in Monza. From 1943, Lelii started manufacturing lamps in his own house and in 1946 he advertised his well-known 'Tris' lamp in Domus magazine. It was in 1947 that he founded Arredoluce in Monza, a premier manufacturer of furniture and lighting. In the same year, he exhibited the lamp 12128 at the VII Triennale di Milano, which became known as the Triennale floor lamp. He became an influential designer in Postwar Italy, especially in the field of modern lighting design. During the 1950s, Arredoluce started to collaborate with designers such as Franco Albini, Achille Castiglioni, Gio Ponti, and Ettore Sottsass and also began to experiment with halogen light bulbs for his designs, which lead to the recognizable Arredoluce switch. Thanks to Angelo Leliis unique approach to design, Arredoluce quickly built a reputation for creating premium quality products based on clean, simple, and functional designs.

Kindly note that the piece is in good, used condition with signs of age and use. The marble contains some chips. For further details, we encourage you to reach out to our team of design specialists.