ETTORE SOTTSASS, JR. (1917-2007)

Italian architect Ettore Sottsass Jr. first encountered Angelo Lelii and Arredoluce in 1947, however it is not until the mid-1950s that he started designing objects in aluminum for the Monza based company. He designed three series of lamps for Lelii including a table lamp and three chandeliers with metal elements, manufactured in a sheet by the lathe that were joined with thin wires.

Sottsass Jr. then later produced his designs for Arredoluce between 1957 and 1958, fine-tuning prototypes and very small production series. His lamps influenced the Arredoluce production of this period greatly, Angelo Lelii being very inclined towards these innovative designs.

The present lot was designed by Ettore Sottssas Jr. around 1957, however since it never went into serial production, it does not have a serial number, most likely because it was never officially photographed for sale purposes. Titled 'Urano', it belongs to the series of Sottsass' ceiling lights named after planets, which feature suspended wire details.