MODERN Italian 1960s Modern Space Age Lighting by NEW LAMP, ROME, ITALY 1968-1972

"New Lamp"

Il mondo magnifico di luce Spaziale e illuminazione d'italia dal 1968-1972

Presented by NOVA68 Modern Design

Above (3 images): "New Lamp" model G999 designed by Giuseppe Ravasio circa 1970.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGR70G999, featured in Domus September 1971; Luce lampade 1968-1973: il nuovo design italiano, Fulvio Ferrari e Napoleone Ferrari, Allemandi editore.

Above (2 images): "New Lamp" variation on model G999 designed by Giuseppe Ravasio circa 1970.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGR70G998, featured in Domus September 1971; Luce lampade 1968-1973: il nuovo design italiano, Fulvio Ferrari e Napoleone Ferrari, Allemandi editore.

Above (4 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Quanta Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini circa 1970.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGF70Q1, featured in Fulvio Ferrari and Napoleone Ferrari, Light, Lamps 1968-1973: new Italian Design, Turin, 2002, pl. 93.  Casa Vogue, November 1971, p. 53

Above (1 image): "New Lamp" model unknown (Convessa Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) and Fabrizio Cocchia (1931-?) circa 1970.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGFFC70C1, featured in Luce lampade 1968-1973: il nuovo design italiano, Fulvio Ferrari e Napoleone Ferrari, Allemandi editore.

Above (2 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Teorema Lamp) in two different variations designed by Gianni Colombo (1937-1993); brother of Joe Colombo (famous for the Boby Trolley).  Designed and created circa 1969.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGCTE1, featured in Luce lampade 1968-1973: il nuovo design italiano, Fulvio Ferrari e Napoleone Ferrari, Allemandi editore.

Above (1 image): "New Lamp" model & name unknown designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) and Fabrizio Cocchia (1931-?) circa 1970.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLLDPGF1, featured in Luce lampade 1968-1973: il nuovo design italiano, Fulvio Ferrari e Napoleone Ferrari, Allemandi editore.

Above (1 image): "New Lamp" model & name unknown (same as previous lamp but with white wall plate and aluminum front plate) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) and Fabrizio Cocchia (1931-?) circa 1970.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLLDPGF1, featured in Luce lampade 1968-1973: il nuovo design italiano, Fulvio Ferrari e Napoleone Ferrari, Allemandi editore.

Above (1 image): "New Lamp" model unknown (Morgana Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) and Fabrizio Cocchia (1931-?) circa 1969.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGFFCM1, featured in Luce lampade 1968-1973: il nuovo design italiano, Fulvio Ferrari e Napoleone Ferrari, Allemandi editore.

Above (4 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Ascissa Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) and Fabrizio Cocchia (1931-?) circa 1970.  Three equal parellelipeds terminating in perspex light sources at each end, the design of this lamp was based on the Max Bill sculpture "Unity from three equal volumes" from 1961-66.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGFFC70A1, featured in Luce lampade 1968-1973: il nuovo design italiano, Fulvio Ferrari e Napoleone Ferrari, Allemandi editore.

Above (4 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Riflessa Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) circa 1970.  Luminous panel in stainless steel steel with white lacquered metal.  The steel cubes are magnetic can be re-arranged.  This was a very large wall lamp measuring 81 x 81 x 10 cm.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGFRL1, featured in Luce lampade 1968-1973: il nuovo design italiano, Fulvio Ferrari e Napoleone Ferrari, Allemandi editore.

Above (5 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Programma Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) circa 1970.  Internal color variations possibly caused by different type of light bulbs.  This is a very large wall lamp measuring (105.1 x 104.4 x 14.9 cm (41 3/8 x 41 x 5 7/8 inches). Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGF70P1, featured in F. Fulvio & N. Ferrari "Light Lamps 1968 - 1973 : New Italian Design" Edition Umberto Allemandi & C

Above (3 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Interior Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) and Fabrizio Cocchia (1931-?) circa 1970.  Four plexiglass cubes with circular cut outs with light emitting from bottom.  There is also a transparent version of this lamp (not pictured).  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGFFC70I1, featured in P. Palma & C. Vannicola "Italian Light 1960 - 1980 One hundred lamps from the Cortopassi Collection" - Editions Alinea - Florence 2004. Page 78. F. Fulvio & N. Ferrari "Light Lamps 1968 - 1973 : New Italian Design" Editions Umberto Allemandi & C. - Turin 2002.

Above (2 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Divieto Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) and Fabrizio Cocchia (1931-?) circa 1970.  Twelve plexiglass rods are illuminated through circular cut outs from the lamps' base. It is possible that "New Lamp' produced other variations of this lamp (not pictured).  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGFFCDVTI1.

Above (2 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Spaziale Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) circa 1970.  Sixteen plexiglass rectangles through which light is emitted through small cut-outs in the base.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGF70S1, C. & P. Fiell "1000 lights 1960 to present" Editions Taschen - Cologne 2005, F. Fulvio & N. Ferrari "Light Lamps 1968 - 1973 : New Italian Design" Edition Umberto Allemandi & C. - Turin 2002

Above (1 image): "New Lamp" model unknown (A Variation on the Spaziale Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini (1942-?) circa 1970.  Fourteen plexiglass rectangles through which light is emitted through small cut-outs in a mirror polished stainless steel base.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGF70VS1.

Above (2 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Modulo Lamp) designed by Giuseppe Ravasio (unknown date of birth) circa 1970.  Same designer as the G999 lamp by New Lamp (see top page).  Several stackered acrylic blocks that are internally lit.  This is a very large wall lamp measuring (108 x 50 x 10 cm). Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGRMD1.

Above (1 image): "New Lamp" model unknown (Ziggurat Lamp) designed by Fabrizio Cocchia (1931-?) circa 1970.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLFCZT1.

Above (1 image): "New Lamp" model and name unknown.  Lamp designed by Ingrid Hsalmarson (unknown date of birth) circa 1970.  Ingrid Hsalmarson designed a total of four lamps for New Lamp as far as we know.  Transparent and red perspex.  This lamp measures about 28.7cm in height and 18cm wide. Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLIHST1.

Above (1 image): "New Lamp" model unknown (Spirale Lamp) designed by Ingrid Hsalmarson (unknown date of birth) circa 1970.  Ingrid Hsalmarson designed a total of four lamps for New Lamp.  Heat bended fluorescent yellow perspex bended into a spiral on aluminum base.  This lamp measures about 60cm in height (20 inches). Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLIHSL1.

Above (1 image): "New Lamp" model unknown (Quasar Lamp) designed by Gianfranco Fini circa 1969.  Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLGFQSR1.

Above (3 images): "New Lamp" model unknown (Luna Lamp) designed by Rinaldo Cutini (unknown date of birth...do a search on google for the designer's name and you will find some pretty weird stuff - don't think there is a relation though) circa 1970.  This lamp measures about 60cm in diameter (20 inches). Reference: nova68.com New Lamp archive: #NLRLU1.

"New Lamp"

The mysterious Italian lighting manufacturer from the Sixties

I have a profound love for Italian lighting and have developped a special interest in the luminous creations by "New Lamp".  "New Lamp" was one of the most influential lighting manufacturers from the late 1960s and early 1970s, but it's very likely you've never heard about this company before.  Half a century after having mysteriously vanished from Roman soil (they had their headquarters in Rome Italy), the nearly forgotten lighting manufacturer is gaining renewed appreciation from a handfull of dedicated private collectors who seek out pieces at Italian antique stores and the occassional surprising flea market find.  "New Lamp" was a company that produced some of the most amazing lamps from 1968 until 1972; yet little is known about its founders or why "New Lamp" seemed to have disappeared into thin air by the end of 1972.  Perhaps the oil crisis marked the end of the visionary dreams of its founders?  I have searched for years to find more information about these light artisans but have come up with next to nothing.  There are only a handfull of other people with some knowledge such as Fulvio and Napoleone Ferrari based in Torino Italy and La Galerie Moderne in Paris.  But even they were unable to trace back "New Lamps' founders and designers.  So I have collected here some of the most beautiful works by "New Lamp" light artists such as Rinaldo Cutini, Giuseppe Ravasio, Ingrid Hsalmarson, Gianfranco Fini and Fabrizio Cocchia.  Inventive designers who are forgotten, under appreciated, or little known although they created some of the most brilliant lamp designs of the 20th century.  You will notice that most lamps have a design/production date of 1970; that is because the exact year of production remains unknown; these lamps were released anywhere from 1968 to 1972.  "New Lamp" never marked the production year on their lamps.  This is an active blog and new lamps will be added as-found so make sure to revisit this page.  Thank you for visiting this page!

Lucia Fontana,
Editor for NOVA68.com and moderndesign.org

NOVA68 Modern Design

Image Credits: Lucia Fontana for NOVA68 (New York), Fulvio and Napoleone Ferrari (Torino), La Galerie Moderne (Paris), Stardust Modern Design (California).