Harvey Guzzini, the Italian lighting style of the 60s and 70s

Harvey Guzzini, does that name ring a bell? One might think, wrongly, of an Anglo-Saxon designer exploiting an Italian surname to produce an inspired design ... But this is not the case! It is an Italian design brand specialized in lighting and founded by the 6 Guzzini brothers (they are Italian!) - Raimondo, Giovanni, Virgilio, Giuseppe, Adolfo and Giannunzio - who were inspired by the 1950 movie Harvey with James Stewart to choose the first part of their company name. This post traces the journey of the Harvey Guzzini brand, especially its success in the 1960s and 1970s.

Harvey Creazioni was founded in 1959 in Recanti, on the central east coast of Italy, by Raimondo Guzzini. Initially, the company focused on the production of enameled copper decorative objects. In June 1963, the six Guzzini brothers joined forces to found Harvey Creazioni di Guzzini, expanding production to include pendant lights, sconces, lamps and floor lamps. Over the course of the 20th century, the Italian company changed names several times, becoming Harvey Creazioni, Guzzini, Illuminazione Guzzini and finally iGuzzini.

Very quickly, the family business met with success in the 1960s for 2 reasons. First, it enlists the services of designer Luigi Massoni for his lighting creations. Born in 1930 in Milan, Massoni is part of the new generation of Italian designers, like Joe Colombo - also from Milan and born the same year - who will sign the revival and success of the Italian furniture industry. In 1964, Luigi Massoni already had a 10-year career behind him. He collaborated with the most important Italian editors, including Alessi and Boffi. For the Italian specialist in tableware and kitchen accessories, he co-designed the shaker in 1957. In 1959 he coordinated production for Boffi, where he created the first modular systems for the home and kitchen.