The dragonfly design is typical of the zoomorphous vocabulary of Art Nouveau, from Lalique’s glass to Tiffany lamps and the inlay in Bugatti’s and Quarti’s furniture. It was repeatedly used in the 1900s by Mazzucotelli in various works (lamps, gates, torch-holders).
Produced for Palazzo Castiglioni, Milan, it was subsequently presented at the Milan Exhibition of 1906, and later repeated with slight variations, the lamp features two large dragonflies leaning with stylised legs on the vertical frame of the shade. The latter is enclosed by three circular bands, overlapping a perforated edge set with small spheres in coloured glass paste, and hooks onto the ceiling with a system of twisted slim rods and rings.
The lightness of the insect’s large wings in perforated and cut lamina matches the dryness of its body, achieved by modelling a single piece of square iron, on which the protruding eyes, the wings and slim feet are set.