Achille and Piergiacomo Castiglioni Splugen Brau pendant light, Flos, Italy 1964

Pair of aluminum pendant lamps, design by Fratelli Castiglioni, model Splügen Bräu, produced by Flos, 1960s

The pendant lamp designed by the Castiglioni brothers in the early 1960s is a timeless classic. A spun aluminum dome allows direct light to be focused on a dining table or work area. This model, designed in 1961, was named after the luxurious Splügen Bräu brewery, which opened in 1961 in Milan. It was a trendy meeting place that combined classic Bavarian tavern elements with fun and refined aesthetic solutions, characteristic of the authentic style of the Castiglioni brothers.

Imagine sipping a selection of imported beers in glasses and mugs also designed by the two brothers at the tables of this iconic venue, surrounded by Milan’s elite—fashion, culture, and top entrepreneurs. You sit on wooden benches covered in fabric with a railway flavor, accompanied by tall-backed iron chairs, humorously oversized. Looking up, you are astonished to see the venue's functional systems exposed: wires, pipes, and ducts creating an industrial arabesque decorating the ceiling. From this ceiling hang multiple pairs of the featured pendant lamps, illuminating the tables below.

This was the scene that greeted visitors to Splügen Bräu in the early 1960s. It was a theatrical setup designed to offer an authentic aesthetic experience to the guests. While we can only rely on period photos and society columns from the brewery's inauguration, as well as more technical and precise accounts like the July 1961 issue of Domus, to reconstruct the sensations such an environment could convey, we can still admire the contemporary design of these pendant lamps today. In our homes, just as in Splügen Bräu in 1961, these lamps, once lit, provide the same effect: a gentle ability to delicately reflect infused light across their translucent, undulating aluminum surface. This effect continues to offer a pleasant feeling and great aesthetic appeal in any setting.

The pair of lamps is original from the era and is offered in perfect working condition. Dimensions: 37 diameter x 21 height