Elio Martinelli (1922 – 2004) was an Italian Designer born in Lucca.
Education
He attended Liverpool School of Art and London’s Sir John Cass Technical College.
Biography
He and others founded a lighting company in 1942. In 1956, he founded the lighting firm, Martinelli Luce in Lucca, designing plastics and metal and producing perspex hanging lamps published in La Rivista dell’ Arredamento.
Plastics were used in the firm’s production from the start, though initially, only acrylics were used. Then came methacrylate, melamine, ABS, and Delrin. Its designs were inspired by the square, the sphere, and other geometric shapes.
Sample of Works
Gae Aulenti, Sergio Asti, Studio DA, Giovanni Bassi, Sergio Martinelli, and director Elio Martinelli were among the designers. The production was done in small series.
Exhibitions
His work was shown at the 1966 Genoa ‘Eurodomus I,’ 1967 Turin ‘Eurodomus II,’ 1968 (XIV) Triennale di Milano, and Domus Design in Switzerland and the Netherlands. Elio Martinelli’s 1970 Table Lamp 643 and 1967 Flessibile working lamps and Asti’s Profiteroles table lamps featured in the 1972 exhibition ‘Design a Plastické Hmoty’ at the Uméleckoprimyslové Muzeum in Prague.
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Elio Martinelli in our partner stores
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Additional Reading
Fleisher, N. (2009). Warman’s Modernism Furniture and Acessories: Identification and Price Guide. Penguin Publishing Group. https://amzn.to/3DactaM
Habegger, J., & Osman, J. H. (1989). Sourcebook of Modern Furniture. Van Nostrand Reinhold. https://amzn.to/3rstlHJ
Solare, D. (2008). Design Decor Delights. Lulu Enterprises Incorporated. https://amzn.to/3D8XDRW
Alexander Girard (1907 – 1993) American interior, & Textile designer
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