Sciolari Opal Chalices Chandelier

Materials: Brass tubes and slightly curved rectangular rods with a white ochre painted decoration. Long brass rod and canopy. 8 conical white opal glass lampshades. 8 Bakelite E14 sockets.

Rod Length: 80 cm / 31.49”

Height: 50 cm / 19.68”

Width: ∅ 50 cm / 19.68”

Glass: 11 cm high, ∅ 11 cm / 4.33”

Electricity: 8 bulbs E14, 8 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred. Although, bright light bulbs are not recommended.

Period: 1950s, 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Angelo Gaetano Sciolari (1927-1994).

Manufacturer: Sciolari, Milan and Rome, Italy.

Other versions: This Sciolari opal chalices chandelier exists in several varieties and was also made as a wall lamp. A table lamp also exists.

Angelo Gaetano Sciolari

Angelo Sciolari graduated with a degree in architecture but wanted to be a filmmaker. This course came to an abrupt end when in 1949 his father suddenly died and he took over the Sciolari Lighting company at the age of 22.

His first designs in the 1950s were Sputnik inspired pendants; of course it was the space age.

In the 1960s he created refined, futuristic and sharp classical style chandeliers. Lines were clean and sculptural and materials such as crystal and ice glass sparkled with a voluptuously luxurious coolness and he started combining brass with chrome.

He led the family business with a passionate vision and within years, he expanded the business and started working with other light companies worldwide.

Gaetano Sciolari created lamps for Stilnovo and Stilkronen (Italy), Lightolier and Progress Lighting (USA), S.A. Boulanger (Belgium), Helestra and Leola (West Germany), Lyfa (Denmark) and some other companies and of course for his own Italian family business; the Sciolari company in Rome and Milan; where all the lighting business at that time was present.

Sciolari was the founder and the first president of the trade association of Italian manufacturers of lighting fixtures, the AIDI. The Associazione Italiana di Illuminazione was founded in 1958 and still exists today.