Real or replica: how to identify a Pipistrello lamp

Turn the lamp over and look for the engraved marking under the base, often accompanied by the publisher's and the designer's signature. Then test the telescopic stem, which should slide then lock without any play, and check that the diffuser is made of tinted methacrylate, dense and even.

How do you recognise a genuine Pipistrello lamp?

A genuine Pipistrello is recognised by three elements combined: the publisher's marking under the base, the height-adjustable telescopic stem and the opal methacrylate diffuser. None of these signs is enough on its own; it is their combined presence that distinguishes the published piece from an imitation.

The marking under the base

Place the lamp upside down on a textile. On an official edition, the base carries an engraving or a label mentioning the publisher and sometimes the year. Our selection work in design lighting always starts with this check of the underside, invisible in a shop but decisive.

The same hallmark logic applies to other published pieces: it is exactly what makes it possible to validate a genuine Muller chandelier, where the marking is the authority.

The designer's signature

The model was designed by Gae Aulenti in the late 1960s for an Italian publisher. A serious reissue keeps this lineage and documents it. A seller unable to name the designer or the original publisher should raise suspicion.

The adjustable telescopic stem

The lacquered steel foot slides over several centimetres and locks at the desired height. This mechanism is complex to copy correctly. On an imitation, the stem is often fixed, or slides without holding its position.

The approach is the same as the one applied to recognising a genuine salt lamp: a physical gesture rather than blind trust in a photo.

How do you spot a copy of a Pipistrello lamp?

A copy Pipistrello lamp gives itself away through its weight and finishes: a light, shiny plastic diffuser rather than dense methacrylate, uneven lacquer, a hollow base that is too light. Compare the felt weight, the thickness of the diffuser and the sharpness of the lacquer on the base and the stem.

Materials and weight

A published piece weighs what it should: metal base, lacquered steel, thick methacrylate. A copy lightens everything to cut costs. Lift the lamp: a surprising lightness is the first signal.

Finishes and lacquer

Examine the lacquer in raking light. On the original, it is smooth and even, with no runs or grain. The same reflexes serve to expose fake light fittings in painted metal, where the finish quickly betrays the imitation.

The bat-wing diffuser

The flared silhouette that gave the lamp its name (pipistrello means bat) has a clean, symmetrical curve. A copy stiffens or rounds off this curve, and the translucent methacrylate becomes an opaque white plastic.

How much is a Pipistrello lamp worth and how do you estimate its value?

The value depends on provenance, edition and condition. A documented edition piece, with invoice and original marking, sits well above a recent reissue or a copy. Without proof of authenticity or an invoice, the resale value drops sharply, whatever its appearance.

Provenance and invoice

Ask for the purchase invoice and, for an older piece, any document tracing its history. Provenance matters as much as the object. To position a model, our guide to estimating the value of a light fitting details the criteria that set the price.

Unsure about a piece or a seller's provenance? Our advisers help you decide before buying.

Condition and edition

The condition of the diffuser (scratches, yellowing) and the type of edition weigh on the estimate. For a new purchase, traceability is as reassuring as age is for vintage.

On a survey of 250 light fittings in our catalogue as of 23 September 2026, CE certification is declared on 100% of the listings and the 5-year warranty on 62%. Our selection is reviewed by buyers, whose feedback on our Google listing you can read.

What design alternative if the original is out of reach?

If the original is beyond your budget or remains impossible to find, turn to sculptural table lamps and signed light fittings, which offer a strong presence without copying the model. The goal remains a piece with a confident design, honest about its materials, rather than an imitation that seeks to deceive.

Sculptural table lamps

A table lamp with a worked curve dresses a console or a sideboard like a sculpture. Favour a straightforward material, glass or lacquered steel, and an assertive shape.

The same care applies to bedside lamps, when the nightstand becomes a light source in its own right.

Signed light fittings

A signed light fitting carries an identifiable design and careful manufacture. Our original light fittings bring together pieces with a strong design, published and documented.

To light a corner of a living room, a floor lamp with a sculptural design fills the same decorative role as an iconic lamp. Our pointers on trending lamps help frame a choice that lasts.

Recognising a genuine Pipistrello comes down to simple gestures, and the same eye then serves for all the lighting decor of an interior.