Pinecone Model Table Lamp by Paola Navone for FontanArte

The radiant Pinecone table lamp by Italian designer Paola Navone (b. 1950) owes to an ancient glass technique for its modern take on lighting design. The unusual shape of the lamp’s diffuser is formed by a glassmaker blowing molten glass into a metal cage and allowing the material to naturally expand. The undulating surface, an effect of the tension between the expanding glass and the frame of the cage that constrains it, resembles the layers of a pinecone.

Navone initially studied architecture in her hometown of Turin before moving to Florence and then Milan to work in design, where her elevation of imperfections and the uniqueness of handcrafted objects has distinguished her decades of work. Navone’s career has spanned a diversity of disciplines, from her 1980s’ involvement in the avant-garde Alchimia group to her joyous embrace of global culture in industrial design, art direction, curation and interiors. A consistently in-demand designer in a male-dominated field, Navone’s collaborations include major clients, such as Swarovski, Roche Bobois, Knoll International and even McDonald’s, for whom she redesigned several stores in France.

The 2016 Pinecone table lamp was produced for the Italian lighting and design firm Fontana Arte, which continues to manufacture the original as well as a suspension version. A single interior bulb is employed to illuminate the Pinecone's diamond pattern of lines. Offered in white acid-etched and transparent blown glass — the latter casting lattices of light — with a chrome or gold finish on its cage, Navone's fixture makes an elegant statement on the beauty of its materials that's both sculptural and functional.

Architect and designer Paola Navone has had an enormous impact on modern furniture design. For over 40 years, she has created interior furnishings for residential and hospitality spaces. She has traveled the world and infused her experiences into her creations, developing a strong appreciation for the architecture and design of Asia. This includes the use of bamboo in much of her furniture, as well as in the simple, natural look of her works.

Not adhering to a single style, Navone’s work reflects a range of influences. She is just as comfortable fashioning a simple, rustic footstool as she is creating an opulent pendant lamp. From her sofas and armchairs to the design of her table lamps and vases, the eclectic variation demonstrates her versatility and innovation.

Navone was born and raised in Turin, Italy. She studied architecture at Turin’s polytechnic school and graduated in 1973. Shortly after, she moved to Milan and entered the world of interior design and architecture. She also worked as a product designer, event organizer and teacher.

Throughout the 1980s, Navone was part of the Memphis Group — a collective of designers and architects who challenged the conventions of traditional design — and associated with such notable designers as Ettore Sottsass and Alessandro Mendini. She also belonged to the avant-garde design group Studio Alchimia, which shared many affiliations with the Memphis Group.

In 1983, Navone won the Osaka International Design Award and in 2000, she was named the AW Architektur Wohnen Designer of the Year. In 2011, she won the ELLE Decor International Design Award. In recent years, Navone has collaborated with Crate Barrel and clothing retailer Anthropologie and continues to work with companies across the architecture and design industries.

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