Italian Metal Floor Lamp in the Manner of Giuseppe Ostuni for Oluce, 1950s

An Italian metal floor lamp from the 1950s, in the manner of Giuseppe Ostuni for Oluce.

Composed of slender brass supports rising from a weighted marble base, the lamp balances a pair of enameled aluminum shades in differing forms and tones. 

One shade is perforated, allowing the light to filter through its surface and creating a softer, patterned glow, while the other remains solid and directional.

The contrast between polished brass, painted metal, and marble gives the piece a distinctly mid-century Italian character. The slender frame keeps the silhouette open, while the asymmetry of the shades introduces movement and visual tension.

A piece that feels equally at home beside a lounge chair or within a larger interior, where its combination of material, proportion, and diffused light becomes as much a presence as a source of illumination.

About Giuseppe Ostuni
Giuseppe Ostuni (1907–1994) was an Italian lighting designer and founder of O-Luce, an influential force in the development of modern Italian lighting. Born in Trieste, Ostuni was largely self-taught, developing his approach through hands-on experimentation and an intuitive understanding of materials and function.

During the postwar years in Milan, he began repairing lampshades damaged during the war, creating new designs by hand with the limited materials available. This period of resourcefulness became an important foundation for his practical yet innovative approach to lighting.

Ostuni established his own workshop in 1947 and officially registered O-Luce in 1948. Working closely with his brother Angelo Ostuni, who contributed many of the firm's technical drawings, he developed a diverse range of functional, sculptural lighting. O-Luce became known for its collaborations with prominent designers including Joe Colombo, Marco Zanuso, Franco Buzzi, and Tito Angoli, helping establish the company as an important contributor to Italy's design culture.