The “curious” lamp designed by Elio Martinelli returns to contemporary homes: a small masterpiece of geometry and color that defies time
Some objects don’t just occupy a space; they seem to observe the world with personality. On the occasion of Milan Design Week 2026, Martinelli Luce announces the comeback of Pallino, the compact table lamp born in the early 1970s from the genius of Elio Martinelli.
In an era of great formal revolutions, Pallino immediately stood out for its ability to blend austere lines with a playful name. Today, this “small piece of tabletop architecture” returns to the spotlight, faithful to the original design but ready to converse with the interiors of the future.
A “Curious” Design Between History and Geometry
The Pallino lamp is a play of perfect contrasts. Its structure features a slender, curved ABS base supporting an adjustable aluminum sphere. It is precisely this spherical reflector that gives it that “curious gaze”—a globe capable of directing light with precision and charm onto a desk or a bedside table.
“Relaunching Pallino means bringing back to today’s homes a touch of that formal lightness and chromatic boldness that made Italian design great,” says Emiliana Martinelli, President of Martinelli Luce. Choosing Pallino during Milan Design Week 2026 means embracing an object that still wants to look forward alongside its owner.
Saturated Colors and Timeless Shapes
Staying true to Elio Martinelli’s philosophy—a designer capable of remaining above fleeting trends—Pallino is reissued in a palette that pays homage to the creative ferment of the 1970s. The lamp is available in five vibrant color variants:
- Orange, Yellow, and Red: For those seeking the energy of pure color.
- Blue and White: For a more understated, architectural elegance.
The liquid-painted finish enhances the texture of its volumes (height 240 mm), making Pallino an ideal room companion, capable of creating warm, enveloping atmospheres that invite meditation and reflection.
Where to Find It: Martinelli Luce in San Babila
During Milan Design Week, the space in Via Borgogna will become the stage to rediscover this icon. Pallino is not just a piece of industrial design history; it is a manifesto of how simplicity can become eternal.
