Fabio Lenci for I Guzzini 'Lampione' Floor Lamp in Red

Fabio Lenci for iGuzzini, floor lamp, model 'Lampione', polyurethane foam, perspex, chrome, Italy, 1968

Fabio Lenci, an acclaimed designer renowned for his innovative lighting designs, conceived the 'Lampione' floor lamp, an outdoor lighting fixture that takes its name from the Italian word for 'streetlamp'. Notably, Lenci's use of Baydur polyurethane foam allowed for the realization of this lamp in an outdoor setting, owing to the material's durability and weather resistance. Lenci's familiarity with Baydur foam derived from his prior employment at the Baydur company before embarking on his career as a designer for iGuzzini.

In the 1960s and 1970s, there was an explosion of shapes, colors, and materials in decorative arts. The use of bright colors and plastics in this design places the floorlamp in the Pop Art era, reminiscent of the contemporaneous experimentation of avant-garde sculptors. Designers moved away from traditional production methods towards innovative design techniques. Furniture from the 1960s and 1970s was influenced by advancements in technology, leading to a wider variety of materials being used. Designers began to incorporate new materials, such as inflatable PVC, disposable cardboard, latex and polyester foam, into furniture design. These materials allowed for the creation of soft, organic shapes that promoted relaxation and comfort. Additionally, plastic in various forms, including hard, smooth, and shiny, became popular, as well as intense, fashionable colors. American, Italian, and Finnish designers were particularly successful in promoting and distributing plastic furniture.

The lamp's stem owes its organic and smooth look by means of the versatile properties of polyurethane foam, achieving a natural contour akin to a flower. The stem is complemented by a semi-circular lampshade, executed in white perspex. This striking contrast between material use and shapes, with the industrial polyurethane foam juxtaposed against the organic-inspired form, imbues the lamp with a distinctive character and postmodern allure.

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