Modern Icons: Silk Fortuny Light Fixtures
Whether Your Look is Contemporary or Traditional, Fortuny Fixtures Bring Luxury Home
My biggest regret from the semester I studied in Venice is that I ignorantly spent a zillion dollars by stupidly using my calling card (remember those?) instead of spending it at Fortuny. The dollar was riding high against the lira and I'll never get another chance like that again.
So, "modern" in this ideabook title is a bit of a stretch, as Fortuny fabrics have been in production for more than a century. But as you'll see, the light fixtures fashioned with this luxurious silk have staying power and fit right into a wide range of traditional and contemporary interiors. The Fortuny company has been using Mariano Fortuny's secret formula to hand-make the most gorgeous fabrics in the world at the original factory on the Giudecca since 1922. While the scarves, pillows, tablecloths and other projects tempt, these incomparable silk light fixtures are the ultimate prize.
So, "modern" in this ideabook title is a bit of a stretch, as Fortuny fabrics have been in production for more than a century. But as you'll see, the light fixtures fashioned with this luxurious silk have staying power and fit right into a wide range of traditional and contemporary interiors. The Fortuny company has been using Mariano Fortuny's secret formula to hand-make the most gorgeous fabrics in the world at the original factory on the Giudecca since 1922. While the scarves, pillows, tablecloths and other projects tempt, these incomparable silk light fixtures are the ultimate prize.
Because of its geography, Venice has a long history of worldwide influences on its art, architecture, culture and style. This two-tiered silk light has Venetian, Asian and Saracen influences.
I try hard not to play favorites, but this has been one of the rooms on Houzz I admire most. The mix of a Victorian house with contemporary Italian furniture and the Fortuny pendant is masterful.
This fixture is called the Scudo Saraceno.
This fixture is called the Scudo Saraceno.
The Cesendello can be used as a pendant or attached to a stand to become a floor lamp. It's a spiral that echoes Venetian design trends popular in the 1400s.
Here's a look at how the Cesendello works as a floor lamp.
Here is a wonderful example of the Fortuny light adding to a more Old World traditional style. I can imagine a group of 19th century merchants and other bigwigs sitting here eating, drinking, smoking, and wheeling and dealing.
This room walks a fine line between traditional and contemporary, right down to the fact that a ceiling full of recessed lighting has a beautiful Fortuny light hanging smack dab in the middle of it.
Colorado meets Venezia! This is yet another style where Fortuny adds to an eclectic mix.
Note how important the height is here. This two-tiered Scheherazade light can be enjoyed from other rooms.
If you make it to Venice, I highly recommend a trip to The Museo Fortuny. Mariano Fortuny was an incredibly prolific designer and inventor, and a visit will inspire you for many years.