1950s Mid-Century Modern Italian Desk Lamp in Brass with Perforated Shade

Desk lamp, brass, coated aluminum, Italy, 1950s

This 1950s Italian desk lamp embodies a kind of sculptural clarity that feels both engineered and expressive, a prime example of mid-century modern design. The lamp’s frame is composed of slender brass rods that elegantly splay outward, tripod-like, giving the object a sense of poised lightness. There is an almost insect-like elegance to it, the way the legs rise and arc, grounding the lamp while keeping the design visually buoyant. Perched above is a conical shade made from off-white coated aluminum, gently flared toward the open end, creating a soft, directional glow. Along the top spine of the shade, its smooth surface is interrupted by a subtle row of circular perforations. The design sits within the 1950s Italian design boom, a period when Stilnovo, Arredoluce, and Arteluce were experimenting with modularity, adjustability, and the sculptural potential of light. It shares the same concerns: how can lighting be adaptable, expressive, and modern?