Milan, Italy
One of the last works by the European Prize for Architecture laureate, the late Alessandro Mendini (1931-2019) was a lamp he designed in 2013 for a company he founded called Ramun.
Now, his Amuleto Lamp has been reintroduced in new sizes and some of which are adorned in lacquerware with intricate mother-of-pearl inlays—a first for a lamp and par for the course of one of Italy’ most profound designers ever.
For Mendini, the Amuleto lamp represents a unique opportunity to design a lighting fixture that represents the sun, moon, and earth.
The reissued “professionale” lamp now comes in other sizes including a floor lamp model.
The new mother-of-pearl lamps are called the “Najeon-Chilgi Collection” and are issued in a limited edition.
The Korean traditional art of Najeon-Chilgi is an aesthetic innovation and a work in progress that is never-ending.
The artistry and sophistication of mother-of-pearl art in Korea are unrivaled in the world.
The craft of pasting the inner lining of the abalone onto woodenware using lacquer originated in China, but it flourished during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392).
Amuleto Pearl is the lamp presented in world preview by Ramun, a lighting brand born from a conversation between Mendini and his nephew, in the exhibition at the Groninger Museum “Mondo Mendini – Il mondo di Alessandro Mendini” that remembers the great designer.
Amuleto Pearl celebrates Korean Najeon-Jang, a mother-of-pearl inlay lacquer-ware technique born over a thousand years ago.
The new mother-of-pearl inlays applied to the new Amuleto were created by the master Korean artist Song Bang-ung.
Master Bang-ung Song has done extensive research to create the lacquered inlay with Mendini’s design, reproduced on the three pieces that compose the lamp and represent the sun, moon, and earth.
The lamp is the result of a long process, 1566 pieces of mother-of-pearl and the combination of an ancient artisan technique with technology.
Project: Amuleto Lamp Professional Series and Amuleto Pearl
Architects: Alessandro Mendini
Manufacturer: Ramun Korea Co., Ltd.
