Kartell
Kartell is an Italian company that produces plastic contemporary furniture. The company, head-quartered in Milan, began manufacturing auto-mobile accessories in 1949. It expanded into home furnishings in 1963. It was founded by Italian chemical engineer Giulio Castelli (1920 – 2006) and his wife and architect Anna Castelli Ferrieri (1918 – 2006). Kartell became well-known due to the work of design’s by her hand.
Many thanks to Lluís from Eclectique Vintage for the photos and the enthusiasm.
Achille Castiglioni KD7 Kartell Pendant Lamp
Materials: Round white acrylic lampshade. Nickel plated metal (brass) lid on top. Nickel plated metal tube and parts. Bakelite E27 socket.
Cord Length: 80 cm / 31.49”
Height: 25 cm / 9.84”
Width: ∅ 35 cm / 13.77”
Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.
Period: 1950s, 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designers: Achille and Pier Gacomo Castiglioni.
Manufacturer: Kartell, Milan, Italy.
Other versions: This Achille Castiglioni KD7 Kartell pendant lamp exists in several colours. Also the KD6 is by their hands. It is a pendant lamp first made in glass for the Milan Chamber of Commerce in 1958 and produced by Venini. Later made in acrylic by Kartell.
Achille Castiglioni
Achille Castiglioni was born in Milan, Italy on 16 February 1918. He was a son of the renowned sculptor Giannino Castiglioni. Achille had two brothers: Livio and Pier Giacomo (nicknamed Popo). They were both architects. Castiglioni studied at the Liceo Classico Giuseppe Parini (Classical high school) in Milan, today named Liceo Parini. He studied classics, the study of classical antiquity.
Achille Castiglioni switched to study of arts at the Liceo Artistico di Brera (artistic high school), also in Milan. Later, in 1937 he went to the faculty of architecture of the Politecnico di Milano, the polytechnic university.
Castiglioni joined the architectural design practice Studio Castiglioni of his two brothers in 1944. Livio left the trio in 1953. Together with his brother Pier Gacomo he designed numerous items. The most well known lamps the duo designed are the Turbino desk lamp for Arteluce and the Arco arc floor lamp for FLOS.
In 1968 Pier Gacomo passed away. After his death, Achille worked alone. From 1969 he taught architectural and design subjects at the Politecnico di Torino (polytechnic university of Turin, Italy).In 1980 he became professor at the Polytechnic university of Milan.
Achille Castiglioni has won 9 “Compasso d′Oro” awards. The designer passed away in Milan on 2 December 2002. Many of Achille Castiglioni’s lighting products are still in production today.
Other lamps
Other lamps the brothers or Achille designed are, among others: the Luminator floor lamp, the Taccia table lamp, the Gatto table lamp, the Lampadina table lamp, the Snoopy table lamp, the Parentesi ceiling/floor lamp, the Toio floor lamp, the Gibigiana desk lamp, the Viscontea cocoon pendant lamp, the Stylos floor lamp, the Splugenbrau pendant lamp and the Ventosa lamp. Many other lamps were designed. Several of them are still in production, you can find them on the FLOS website.
Acrylic: often named by its commercial name: Perspex, Plexiglas, Crylux, Acrylite, Lucite, is a thermoplastic.
Links (external links open in a new window)
Achille Castiglioni – Wikipedia
Pier Giacomo Castiglioni – Wikipedia
Pier Giacomo Castiglioni – Designculture
Polytechnic University of Milan