Catellani&Smith

“I began making my lamps without knowing whether I would ever sell them. Success came suddenly, unexpectedly, without warning. I didn’t even know how to make them on a production line. This is how Catellani & Smithwas born. Almost by chance. Logan Smith – who we encouraged people to believe was a London architect – was actually the name of the horse I had at the time. It was a way of not concentrating everything on me, giving myself credibility but also beginning an unbroken journey marked out by ongoing and spontaneous irony. I like to play down my creations. At the end of the day they are simply lamps. But I put all of myself into them, all my research, attention, expression. And I expect everyone working with me to do the same. It is a question of respect for those who believe in us and are moved by our products. I’m not a designer. I’m not an artist. And I don’t want to be either. I’m a person who loves what he does. Then other people like it too.

Since 1989 things have changed, the firm has grown, production has increased, research on the back of technology. Now we can do much more. Everything changed so that nothing would change. Our lamps are still made by hand today, in attractive workspaces. They are all made in Italy, on the banks of the Serio River… There’s no stress. Every lamp is given all the time it needs to be well made. Because ‘beautiful’ is subjective, ‘perfect’ isn’t. Today, when I think about what has been, it seems like a miracle…”

Enzo Catellani