Pipistrello Bianca Telescoping Lamp, ca. 1965
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GUEST:
Just got it last weekend at an estate sale. My wife and I, we like to decorate with mid-century modern-looking things, and they wanted $25 for it, but I talked him down to $20.
APPRAISER:
This is a masterpiece of mid-century modern Italian design. This was designed by Gae Aulenti. She designed this lamp, which is called the Pipistrello Bianca. This became such an icon of mid-century modern Italian design. But you've got some damage on the shade here.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
The shade is made out of methacrylate, which is a type of plastic, and due to a really hot lightbulb, at some point, it kind of melted part of the plastic.
GUEST:
I saw that.
APPRAISER:
And the plastic cracked. If you offered this, maybe at a public auction, in the $300 to $500 range. Just as a parts lamp.
GUEST:
Well, maybe I'll find the shade somewhere. (laughs)
APPRAISER:
You might. Keep, keep an eye out at those estate sales, you just might. Matched back up with a vintage shade, retail for around $2,000 to $3,000 in a gallery.
Appraisal Details
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