Oscar Torlasco Lens Chandelier

Materials: Metal frame completely made of brass. 15 crystal glass “optic lens” discs. Bakelite sockets.

Chain Length: 80 cm / 31.49’’

Height: 28 cm / 32.28”

Width: ∅ 50 cm / 25.59”

Electricity: 15 bulbs E14, 15 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

Period: 1960s – 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Oscar Torlasco – attributed.

Manufacturer: Esperia, Via Campania, 1D, 53036 Poggibonsi, Italy – attributed.

Other versions: This Oscar Torlasco lens chandelier was in all probability made in several sizes. Also produced as a wall lamp and a flush mount. Probably also made in a chrome version.

Oscar Torlasco designed many chandeliers with these magnifying glass lenses. It is one of his biggest successes. He designed them for several companies, many of them for the Stilkronen company.

Chandeliers in the same “optic” style were also produced by Palwa from Germany, Sciolari, Achille Salvagni, Fontana Arte (Max Ingrand), Italy. Jean Perzel, France. To name a few.

Oscar Torlasco

Born in Rome, Italy in 1934, Oscar Torlasco designed many beautiful lamps. The most well known are the lamps he designed for Lumi, his own company. Torlasco designed for several other Italian lighting manufacturers including Esperia, Stilux, Lamperti and Stilkronen. Most of his designs are from the 1950s and 60s. For many lamps, he uses optic lenses for spreading/diffusing the light. It is his trademark. In 1959 Torlasco won the Italian design award, the “Compasso d’Oro” (Golden Compass) for his Genova 4053 street lighting. The lamps were in production by Fabbrica Apparecchi Illuminazione Greco S.p.A. Oscar Torlasco passed away in 2004. Mor info about the Lumi company and Oscar Torlasco can be found here on Vintageinfo.

Esperia

The Esperia company was founded in 1952, with the aim of producing chandeliers, table lamps, wall lamps, floor lamps, ceiling lights, wall light panels and furniture. Esperia is famous for the Quasar lamp from the 60s and 70s, designed by the Venetian designer/professor Angelo Brotto. Brotto designed many beautiful lamps for Esperia in that period. The Esperia company still exists and they produce very beautiful lighting. More info about Angelo Brotto and Esperia can be found here on Vintageinfo.

Stilkronen

Not much information to be found about the company active in at least from the sixties until the nineties. The company owned the Murano brand Altarte. Stilkronen is well known for the large amount of lamps they produced that were designed by Gaetano Sciolari and Oscar Torlasco.