Elio Martinelli

Elio Martinelli was born in Lucca in 1922/2004. After attending technical colleges, he obtained a degree in set design from the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence and, thanks to his creativity, helped to develop his father Plinio’s business in the lighting sector. After several years’ experience in set design, he set up his own practice in the historic centre of Lucca.

He initially focused on interior design and the fit-out of shops, restaurants, hotels and bars. To complement his work, he felt the need to design and produce lighting fixtures himself. This was in the 1950s; he began production and created his first catalogue. It was during this period that Elio Martinelli showcased his simple yet rigorous genius, giving the company a significant boost and establishing it as a benchmark for Italian design in the lighting sector. Elio Martinelli was renowned both in Italy and abroad. He then began collaborating with renowned designers in the sector, winning several awards. After taking over the company, he took part in the first edition of Eurodomus in 1966, at the invitation of the architect Gio’ Ponti. He would subsequently be a regular participant in the 1968, 1970 and 1972 editions. He also took part in the 14th and 15th Milan Triennials in 1973 and in all subsequent editions of the Milan Furniture Fair, Intel and, more recently, Euroluce. Elio Martinelli’s inspiration always stems from great simplicity, geometry and nature as seen in its various forms. A crescendo of intuitions, utilising new materials such as methacrylate, which he experimented with on several models at the start of his career as a manufacturer and designer. He sought out new ideas, new technologies and new production systems, whilst also taking into account the constant evolution of light sources.

These experiments have given rise to a number of lamps such as Foglia, Bolle, Flex, Serpente, Cobra, Nuvole vagabonde and the Biconica, as well as playful creations such as the Rondini, Cavallo Pazzo, Geronimo and many more. Some models from the Martinelli Luce collection have been installed in prestigious museums and have been featured in publications and articles at numerous industry exhibitions. During the final years of his life, Elio Martinelli shifted his design focus towards a more technical sector, whilst not neglecting new light sources: this led to the creation of large-scale lighting systems and fixtures, of various types and including bespoke designs, devised for large spaces and to meet new requirements. Elio Martinelli was tireless, spending his days at the company right up until his death in 2004. Even today, forty years on, the lamps he created – such as the Cobra, the Bolla, the Semisfera and many others – continue to convey, in a context so very different from that of their time, a strong and original design.