Elio Martinelli's design mark has been passed down to the present day, owing to his intuitive sense of aesthetics and the allure of the Italian countryside.
The company loves the beauty of nature and the purity of geometric shapes in its design process. Profiles that imply harmony on the one hand and balance on the other.
This blend of natural and geometric components contained inside the physiognomy of a Martinelli Luce lamp provides an aesthetic language that is as refined as it is captivating, capable of arousing the beholder's imagination and emotions.
A welcoming and comforting soothing visual adn tactile experience.
The path was blazed in the second half of the 1940s by set designer Elio Martinelli, who created and manufactured lamps for theatre sets with scenic forms that interact with the theatrical action, becoming part of the narration. Elio's lamps are technical-decorative: they must link to the set design and integrate with the stage project, but they must also meet lighting needs.
Elio creates and manufactures these luminaires himself. Giò Ponti, who noticed the high quality of his lamps, pushed him to sell them. Elio took his suggestion and began touring Tuscany in a Lambretta to present his products, aided by his wife.
With more than positive results, Martinelli Luce was founded in 1953 in a basement called "laboratory". The handcrafted creation of decorative lamps requires few tools, and numerous ideas and inspirations come from geometry and nature. This results in a production offer that is highly functional, has suggestive, sober shapes, and makes excellent use of materials—including then-novel, for the time, methacrylate—while still being aesthetically pleasing to the public.
''We've always had a technical spirit; we've been making architectural and decorative products for over 70 years. This is another factor that distinguishes our company from others, in addition to maintaining our identity at all times.
We are acknowledged as a historical Italian company as of 2023. Being listed in the Special Register of Historical Trademarks of National Interest is a commendable accomplishment''.