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Anna Lari: Crafting Light, Shaping Legacy

From its artisanal beginnings to redefining modern lighting design, Anna Lari is a masterclass in innovation and elegance

anna lari ambrina lamp2 il pellicano restaurant

Mention Anna Lari to any design aficionado, and they’ll light (pun intended) at the name. For decades now, the Italian company has been a mainstay in the creative sector for its artisanal lamps – interior must-haves, be them cordless or classic, that have graced private homes and commercial locales, restaurants and hotels.

In the latter category are our very own properties: Anna Lari lighting features in fact both in some of the rooms and common spaces of the Pellicano hotels – testament to their bellISSIMO aesthetic appeal.

Yet, lamps weren’t originally what the brand started with back in 1966, when it was first established by husband-and-wife duo Anna Lari and Giorgio Gandellini.

My parents were actually making wooden frames back then,” says Ambra Gandellini, daughter of Anna, who today runs the company with her mum and sister Giada. “They were both highly artistic, and that was their main area of focus.

It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that lighting design entered the picture. “Mum and dad used to attend different design fairs,” Ambra says, “To make sure their exhibiting space would stand out, they began designing wooden lamps for it.

Soon, the bright items began catching just as much – if not more – attention as the frames, with an increasing number of clients asking how they could get them. Just like that, a lighting master was born.

It was almost serendipitous,” Ambra says. “Definitely meant to be.”

In the span of a few years, the visionary duo branched out from only using wood to including materials like brass, iron, steel, aluminum, copper, plexiglass, and glass in their work, developing unique finishes that ranged from antiqued effects like rusted iron and scolded brass to modern, lustrous options such as chrome, steel, gold, and silver. At the same time, they honed a pared-back, elegant aesthetic of minimalist lines and essential shapes that still shines today.

The switch made sense to the artist pair: just like a piece of art, lights can add an accent, a mood, a flourish to a room. They serve as a trick and a mood-enhancer, a riposte to a conventional space, a form of expression.

Lamps turned out to be their biggest passion and creative call,” Ambra notes. “They both loved sketching new models, and coming up with innovative ideas on how to revolutionise the sector – while still remaining small and family-run.

A pivotal moment in the brand’s evolution occurred in 1982 with the introduction of the ‘Ambra’ lamp, named after their daughter. With a diffuser that could rotate 360° degrees, the metal lamp was among the first of its kind in the lighting design field, showcasing the brand’s commitment to originality and timeless design.

Anna Lari, Ambra e Giada Gandellini and Enrico Lonati

The ‘Ambra’ became their – our – most iconic piece,” Ambra recalls. A cordless table version, the ‘Ambrina,’ was introduced in 2013, designed by Anna Lari herself. “It’s another best-seller,” Ambra says. “And another labour of love from my mum. I’m pretty proud it bears my name.

anna lari ambrina lamp la torre restaurant mezzatorre

A version called Glossy Brass is the one you’ll now find at all of the Pellicano hotels’ restaurants. “We couldn’t be prouder of that,” Ambra says. “ISSIMO and the Pellicano hotels are ambassadors of Italian excellence, so for Anna Lari to be represented by them is a true honour.

Giorgio Gandellini passed away a few years ago, but to this day Anna Lari continues to project and create new lamps. “She’s the last one to leave the office,” Ambra says. “She’s absolutely inspiring to my sister and me.

The three women cover several roles within the company, ensuring it stays independent and artisanal. To that end, they also work only with local workshops around Brescia, where they are based. “For us, it’s important to stay true to the concept of ‘Made in Italy,’” Ambra says. “The craftsmen we work with, the materials we source, the manufacturing process – everything is from our country. We have such an incredible wealth of talent here, and seeking it out and supporting it is part of the Anna Lari ethos. My mum wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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