Condition: Good condition with small signs of age and use
The Clessidra wall lamp designed by Bobo Piccoli for FontanaArte in the 1970s is a rare and iconic piece of Italian Mid-Century Modern design.
Unlike modern technical versions, this model is a sculptural object made of satin-finished (acid-etched) white glass. Its shape consists of two symmetrical, squared-off pyramidal volumes that meet at a central point, creating a sharp, geometric hourglass silhouette.
Key Features:
Material: Thick, high-quality frosted glass that glows uniformly when lit, rather than just casting light up and down.
Light Effect: It provides a soft, diffused ambient light, characteristic of 70s interior "atmosphere" lighting.
Mounting: It features a discreet white lacquered metal frame that remains hidden behind the glass.
Bobo (Augusto) Piccoli (1927–1981) was a versatile Italian artist and designer from Milan, known for bridging the gap between painting, architecture, and industrial design during the post-war era.
Key Highlights
Artistic Roots: Trained at the Brera Academy under masters like Carlo Carrà, he was a key figure in Milan's intellectual circles. In 1946, he co-signed the “Oltre Guernica” manifesto, a movement that sought to modernize Italian art after WWII.
Iconic Design: He is best known in the design world for his collaboration with FontanaArte. His most famous creations are the Re and Regina (King and Queen) lamps (1968), which are celebrated for their sculptural, chess-piece-inspired shapes and soft, diffused light.
Public Works: His masterpiece in "synthesis of the arts" is the massive polychrome mosaic floor (over 2,000 square meters) in the courtyard of the Palazzo delle Stelline in Milan, completed in the 1970s.
Style: His work evolved from post-cubist painting to a refined focus on light, geometry, and space. He often worked closely with architects to integrate art directly into building structures.
His works are currently held in prestigious collections, including the Museo del Novecento in Milan.
FontanaArte is a prestigious Italian design company founded in 1932 by architect Gio Ponti and glass master Pietro Chiesa. Based in Milan, it is world-renowned for its mastery of glasswork and its role in shaping the history of modern Italian lighting and furniture.
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SILVER Seller in Padova, Italy
