For centuries, gold as a color shade is associated with classiness and elegance. For this reason, it also plays a role in contemporary lighting design. Italian lighting manufacturers such as Catellani & Smith, Lamp and Terzani have discovered the notable effects of golden tone in many of their creations. Those Italian lighting fixtures are a great way to set accents when decorating homes.
Considering color meanings, gold is often cited in tandem with sunlight, warmth and richness. Furthermore, it symbolizes vitality and inspiration. All these ideas come into one’s mind while having a first sight at gold-plated lights. In the context of lighting design lights in golden tone require special care. It is not about the use of the precious metal gold, but rather about the processing of single color pigments that reflect golden tone. In many cases, gold bronze is used as colorant and leaf gilding is applied. Another way of achieving warm golden tone is using various substitutes on the basis of a brass alloy, known as “mosaic gold”.
Since gold surfaces and objects leave a permanent impression, lights with golden tone should be cleverly arranged with all other interior. Contrasts like gold tone on dark backgrounds serve to enhance the color and light effects. Special lighting effects are also obtained when white light hits the gold surfaces. These mentioned qualities are also shown by the following designer lamps.
The Italian lighting manufacturer Catellani & Smith is known for many unique lighting designs. The Stchu Moon series is best known. Its versatile wall and ceiling light is one of the gems of the lighting series and available with a gold coating. The designer Enzo Catellani seemed to be inspired by both the color shades of gold and the moon. Even if the Stchu Moon light is switched off it is part of the decorative ensemble of the room. The first lighting fixtures of the Stchu Moon series were manufactured in 1997 and since then belong to the designer lights classics with a golden glow.
Lamp, another lighting manufacturer from Italy, offers a variety of lighting fixtures characterized by traditional craftsmanship and high quality materials. The Vertigo 0460/S pendant light was designed by Patrizia Volpato. The focus is on the glass-made lamp shell as well as on gold coating (24 carat) and the use of Swarovski crystals. The expressive power of this ornate pendant light is further characterized by its spiral structure and the uniform distribution of light.
Terzani lighting is another example of extravagant lighting design with golden tone. Manufactured of 3.900 single gilded metal leaf plates, the Tresor wall sconce is a representative of that style and was designed by Jean-Francois Crochet, who met the company founder Sergio Terzani in 1985 and led the brand Terzani to further success with his creative ideas. The nine gold-plated discs which are part of the impressive ball of light were mounted by hand.
