Macchina della Luce
Made by Catellani & Smith
Designed by Enzo Catellani
Enzo Catellani conceived the Macchina della Luce as a meditation on refraction, specifically the way gold leaf bends and scatters light the way firelight does against an ancient surface. It belongs to the Luci d'Oro collection, a body of work rooted in Catellani's sustained fascination with luminous materiality and the emotional temperature of warm light.
Each composition is built from diffuser discs lined with gold, copper, or silver-colored leaf, suspended from brass or aluminum rods and anchored by a nickel base. The discs are arranged in configurations ranging from two to five elements, each grouping producing a distinct silhouette and a different quality of glow. The warmth shifts depending on the leaf choice: gold reads as solar and ancient, copper carries a more intimate heat, silver introduces restraint.
- Leaf-lined diffuser discs in gold, copper, or silver colorways
- Brass or aluminum rod structure with nickel base
- 2700K LED source, 1,440 to 7,200 lumens depending on configuration
- Triac dimming standard; DALI and 1-10V available on request
- Made in Italy, made to order
Catellani & Smith was founded in Bergamo in 1989. Every piece is produced by hand in the company's Italian atelier, where craft processes that predate industrial production are applied to contemporary lighting design. The Macchina della Luce reflects that continuity: a form that feels simultaneously ancient and precisely of its moment.
Made to order by Catellani & Smith, tailored to you.
Get personalized guidance on product details, customizations, swatch samples, pricing, and lead times.
Pairs Well With
Macchina della Luce
Frequently Asked Questions
What leaf colorways are available for Macchina della Luce?
The diffuser discs are available lined in gold, copper, or silver-colored leaf. Each finish produces a meaningfully different quality of light: gold is the warmest and most reflective, copper yields a softer amber tone, and silver introduces a cooler, more diffuse glow.
How many disc configurations does Macchina della Luce come in?
The pendant is available in configurations of two to five diffuser discs depending on the model, with each arrangement creating a distinct compositional silhouette and a corresponding variation in total lumen output, from 1,440 up to 7,200 lumens.
Is Macchina della Luce dimmable?
Yes. Triac dimming is standard across the range. DALI and 1-10V dimming protocols are available on request, which makes the fixture compatible with sophisticated architectural lighting control systems.
Where is Catellani & Smith lighting manufactured?
Catellani & Smith produces all of its lighting by hand at its atelier in Bergamo, Italy. The studio was founded by Enzo Catellani in 1989, and handcraft remains central to every piece in the collection.
What ceiling height is recommended for Macchina della Luce?
Given the pendant's sculptural scale and the visual weight of multi-disc configurations, it reads best in spaces with generous ceiling heights, generally 10 feet or above. Larger five-disc compositions are particularly suited to double-height or monumental interiors.