STILNOVO
Stilnovo (1946–Present) was founded in Milan by Bruno Gatta in 1946 just as Italy was undergoing reconstruction after World War II. Gatta chose the name Stilnovo, which translates to "new style”, based on the influential Italian poetic movement which developed in Florence in the 13th century. Its aim was to look for a different and more refined way to express one's own feelings and thoughts. Seeking a new design aesthetic that would speak to the sentiment of the new era, while also being mindful of the relative austerity of Italy at the time, Bruno Gatta launched Stilnovo focusing its lighting designs on function and practicality. He saw the need for a new design language and appropriated the name to execute his vision.
In the mid-1950's Angelo Gaetano Sciolari was brought in to Stilnovo as its head designer. He was already an accomplished lighting designer and businessman who had previously managed his family lighting company. As the economic situation improved in Italy, Sciolari was able to position Stilnovo as one of the premier lighting design companies of the time, becoming a beacon of design experimentation and setting a unique and compelling lighting style imitated by many.
By the mid 1960's, Dino Gatta, son of founder Bruno, set a new phase for Stilnovo based on design collaborations with some of the most reputable Italian designers. During this time, Stilnovo created important lighting designs such as Danilo and Corrado Aroldi’s Persicopio floor lamp (1967), Joe Colombo’s Triedo spotlight and Topo wall lamp (‘70), Gae Aulenti’s and Livio Castiglioni’s Trepiu floor lamps (‘72), Cini Boeri’s Lucetta wall lamp (‘73), and Ettore Sottsass’ Valiga desk lamp (‘77).
Stilnovo became recognized internationally with several of their designs showcased in the exhibition “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 1972.
