Gaetano Sciolari
Angelo Gaetano Sciolari (* 1927 , † 1994 ) was an Italian industrial designer who became known for his lighting fixtures that were created in the mid-20th century. Sciolari came from a family that had been making lights since 1892. He began in the 1950s with a design for the Italian manufacturer Stilnovo , for which he created his most famous designs - a series of crown and wall lights - which were made of both shiny and matt metals and showed futuristic visions of the beginning space age . His work is assigned to the style of the mid-century modern .
Life
After completing his architecture studies, Sciolari began training as a film director until he took over the family business at the age of 22 after the untimely death of his father in 1949. Within a few years he expanded the company considerably and in 1954 won an international lighting and design competition. Sciolari's first designs were pendant lights inspired by the atomic symbol , which in the 1960s developed into chandelier shapes such as the Ovali collection , which were angular and futuristic, with clear lines and sculptural lighting elements made of materials such as crystal glass or ice glass . He contrasted these glass satellites with highly polished metal, and he also combined brass with chrome. In his work, Sciolari was influenced by currents such as cubism , deconstructivism and minimalism , his works were sophisticated, sculptural and full of futuristic interpretation. His company was based in Milan and Rome.
The manufacturers and distributors of Sciolari's designs included Stilnovo (Milan), Boulanger (Belgium), Stilkronen (Germany), Lightolier and Progress Lighting (United States), Lyfa (Denmark), Helestra and Leola (both Germany).
In 1958 Sciolari was the founder and first president of the Association of Italian Lighting Manufacturers, Associazione Italiana di Illuminazione .
Works (selection)
Sciolari's works were titled like
- Molecular Chandelier , Stilnovo, 1955
- Sculpture
- Geometric series
- Habitat series
- Scultura & Futura
- Club
- Futura
- Cubic
- Oval
In film and television
In the 1970s, a pair of Sciolaris cubic chandeliers were used in the futuristic scenery of the British science fiction television series Moon Base Alpha 1 . Its lights were also seen in the 1973 film James Bond 007 - Live and Let Die . 1983 one of his lights decorated scenes in an episode of the television series Dallas . A cubic chandelier by Sciolari was used as a prop in the 2004 British gangster thriller Layer Cake .
literature
- Judith Miller : Miller's Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2020–2021 . Hachette UK, 2019, ISBN 1-78472-648-6 , p. 582.
- Noah Fleisher: Warman's Modernism Furniture and Acessories. Identification and Price Guide. Penguin, 2009, ISBN 1-44021-935-4 , p. 275.
Web links
- Gaetano Sciolari. In: artnet , with pictures of Sciolari's work.
- Gaetano Sciolari. In: artsy.net, with pictures of Sciolari's work.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e Gaetano Sciolari. Biography. In: roomscape.net
- ↑ Vintage Flush Mount by Gaetano Sciolari for Leola. In: pamono.eu
- ↑ a b c d e Gaetano Sciolari Cubic Chandelier. In: vintageinfo.be
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Sciolari, Gaetano |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Sciolari, Angelo Gaetano (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian industrial designer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1927 |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1994 |