A wonderfully playful set of “Balloon” wall lights designed by Yves Christin for Bilumen, Italy, dating from the 1980s.
One of the most charming examples of postmodern Italian lighting, Christin’s design transforms an everyday balloon into an unexpected piece of functional sculpture. Mounted to the wall, each light creates the illusion of a balloon floating effortlessly in space, complete with its delicate trailing cord and decorative glass bead.
Offered here as a striking set of three in white, yellow and pale blue, the different sizes and colours create a particularly expressive composition when displayed together.
The simplicity of the balloon form disguises a clever lighting design. When illuminated, light softly traces the perimeter of the shade, producing a subtle halo against the wall and emphasising the sculptural silhouette. Switched off, the pieces remain highly decorative objects in their own right.
The fine cords and coloured glass counterweights are especially delightful details, reinforcing the illusion of real floating balloons and giving the design its unmistakable sense of humour.
Designed by Yves Christin
and produced by Italian lighting manufacturer Bilumen, these lights perfectly capture the imaginative and unconventional spirit of Italian design during the 1980s.
