MCM-063 Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce — Mushroom Table Lamp, White Enameled Metal, Italy, c.1960s–70s

A rare and collectible mushroom table lamp designed by Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce, Italy, circa 1960s–1970s — one of the defining pieces of Italian Space Age lighting design and among the most sought-after names in 20th-century decorative lighting.

Elio Martinelli founded Martinelli Luce in Lucca, Italy in 1950 and devoted his career to creating innovative, sculptural lighting that positioned the company as one of the premier names in Italian modernist design. Martinelli Luce produced designs by some of the greatest names of the era — Gae Aulenti (the iconic Pipistrello lamp), Sergio Asti, and Martinelli himself — creating a body of work that is now actively collected worldwide. The mushroom form, produced in several iterations including the celebrated Model 625 (designed 1968), became one of Martinelli's signature expressions: a clean, architectural silhouette in white enameled metal that works as well in a contemporary interior as it did in the Space Age living rooms it was designed for.

This example is constructed in white enameled metal with wiring in working order. The shade is missing and will need to be sourced or fabricated — original Martinelli Luce shades were typically white Perspex/methacrylate; a period-appropriate replacement shade significantly increases display and resale value.

• Designer: Elio Martinelli
• Manufacturer: Martinelli Luce, Lucca, Italy
• Design Period: c.1960s–1970s
• Materials: White enameled metal
• Dimensions: Approx. 20¼" H × 9¼" diameter (base/stem, not including shade)
• Electrical: Wiring in working order
• Condition: Good; some surface scratching and minor paint loss consistent with age; shade missing
• Source: Joshua Kodner Galleries, Dania Beach, FL
• Auction Date: January 6, 2024
• Lot Number: 159