Decorative piece designed by Elio Martinelli for his own firm “Martinelli Luce” under the name Tornado, or reference 1770. This chandelier is made of thin aluminum sheets bent with several radiuses to create the overall shape.
One source of light in the center.
 
ELIO MARTINELLI (1921 – 2004)
Elio Martinelli was an influential Italian designer known for his iconic lighting fixtures. Born in Lucca, Italy, he initially trained as a theatre set designer but soon shifted his focus to industrial design, particularly lighting. In 1950, he founded “Martinelli Luce”, a company dedicated to creating innovative and functional lighting solutions. His designs were characterized by their minimalist, geometric, and organic forms, often inspired by nature. Martinelli was a pioneer in the use of new materials and production techniques. He frequently experimented with metals, acrylic glass and other plastics, which were relatively novel at the time, enabling the creation of distinctive shapes and diffused lighting effects. His designs from the 1960s and 1970s remain iconic, with some of the most notable pieces being the Snake lamp (1965), the Cobra lamp (1968), and the Pipistrello lamp by Gae Aulenti, he edited in (1965). The Cobra lamp, with its swiveling, snake-like form, and the Pipistrello, with its bat-winged silhouette, exemplify his playful yet functional approach to design. Elio Martinelli's work has been recognized worldwide, and his designs are still in production, maintaining their status as timeless pieces in the world of modern lighting.