Rossini Illuminazione, "Spider" wall lamp-sculpture, model 943, Italy, 1960s

Rossini Illuminazione, "Spider" wall lamp-sculpture, model 943, Italy, 1960s

A rare zoomorphic wall lamp produced by Rossini in the 1960s, model 943, conceived as a true luminous sculpture in the form of a spider.

The structure is made of wrought iron rod, with eight long, individually shaped legs arranged radially around the body. The central section is enriched with copper elements, now characterized by a splendid natural patina in shades of green, ochre, and brown, which emphasizes the object's strongly material character.

The spider's abdomen houses the light source and consists of a large ovoid diffuser in mold-blown glass, with an irregular and highly textured surface. When turned on, the light passes through the undulations of the glass and transforms the insect's body into a luminous volume, while the metal structure projects the design of its long legs onto the wall.

The construction of the head is particularly refined, crafted from shaped and applied metal elements that reproduce the spider's details in an almost anatomical manner. The deliberately irregular execution retains the hallmark of craftsmanship, making each element an integral part of the lamp's sculptural character.

This model is part of the most unique production of Rossini, an Italian company active in the decorative lighting sector, and embodies the 1960s design era in which the light fixture transcended its function to become a presence in space: halfway between design, sculpture, and fantasy object.

Model 943 is documented in the specialist literature with reference to the Rossini Catalogue, 1960s volume, page 20; an example is also catalogued by Aste Boetto with the same composition of iron rod, copper, and mold-blown glass.

Manufacturer: Rossini
Model: 943, "Spider"
Origin: Italy
Period: 1960s
Materials: Iron rod, patinated copper, mold-blown glass
Type: Wall sconce / wall sculpture
Bibliography: Rossini Catalog, 1960s volume