Model 597’s unique nylon fringes were inspired by both the world of fashion and the fringed entrance curtains commonly found in Italy’s bars and grocery stores in the late 1950s. They are affixed to a diabolo-shaped aluminum base, which is fitted with six lateral bulbs around the central core, with an additional bulb housed in a cavity on top, directing light upwards. This creates a 360º light that floods out evenly between the fringes, as well as an uplight – enhanced by the reflection in the polished-aluminum surface – which can be individually controlled with a dual-button switch.

From door handles and jewelry to homes and hotels, Gianfranco Frattini left an indelible mark on modern Italian design over the course of his 50-year career. Experienced at creating interiors for public spaces such as restaurants and nightclubs, he appreciated the importance of modulating light to create nuances within an interior – forming areas of both functional focus and warm, subtle radiance that contribute to the atmosphere and sense of place. When he died in his beloved Milan in 2004, Frattini left behind one of the richest and most varied legacies of any 20th-century designer, encompassing award-winning furniture – both indoor and outdoor – modern icons, and landmark interiors that shaped the taste of the era.