Max Baguara floor lamp

This floor lamp by Max Baguara and produced by Lamperti in Italy during the 1980s presents a striking interplay of transparency and gleaming metal. The lamp stands 180 cm tall on a circular brass base measuring 27 cm in diameter. From this foundation rises a thick, rectangular panel of clear tempered glass, framed on both sides by polished brass supports. The uninterrupted verticality of the glass panel lends the lamp a sense of lightness and visual openness, while the brass framing provides both structural reinforcement and a warm, reflective accent.

At the top of the glass panel, the brass supports converge into a conical reflector finished to a high polish. This upward-facing shade measures approximately 27 cm across at its widest point and is engineered to disperse light upward, creating a soft wash of illumination on the ceiling and surrounding walls. The joint where the cone meets the supports is secured with oversized brass fasteners, whose precision machining and clean lines speak to the lamp’s meticulous construction. Those same fasteners repeat at the base, creating a visual dialogue between top and bottom.

Over four decades of existence have endowed the brass elements with a subtle patina, softening their mirror-like sheen to a warm, golden hue. The glass remains pristine, free of chips or cracks, its surfaces unblemished except for a few faint scuffs visible only upon close inspection. The overall condition is very good for its age, with both materials retaining their original integrity and luster.

Max Baguara emerged in the Italian design scene in the late 1970s, at a moment when postmodern experimentation was encouraging designers to explore contrasts of form and material. His work often juxtaposes solid, weighty elements—such as thick glass or substantial metal hardware—with geometric rigor. In this uplight, Baguara’s interest in architectural clarity is evident in the clean, unadorned geometry of the glass and brass components.

Lamperti, a respected Italian lighting manufacturer, partnered with forward-thinking designers throughout the 1980s to produce fixtures that balanced artisanal craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. The use of tempered glass as a load-bearing element was a technical innovation at the time, and the high-gloss brass finish exemplifies the era’s embrace of polished surfaces. This lamp, with its sculptural presence and ambient uplight, stands as a testament to that collaborative spirit and remains a distinctive example of Italian postmodern lighting.