There are lighting brands. And then there is Astep.
Most lighting companies can tell you about their materials, their manufacturing process, their finish options. Very few can trace their design DNA across three generations of some of the most consequential figures in twentieth-century Italian design. Astep can — and that lineage is precisely what makes every piece in the collection something more than a light fixture. It's a piece of living design history, made for the way we live today.
Available at LoftModern.com, the Astep collection spans table lamps, floor lamps, pendant lights, wall lights, and spectacular chandeliers — each one a statement about what great lighting can do for a space, and for the people who inhabit it.
The Story: Three Generations of Sarfatti Design
To understand Astep, you need to go back to 1939. That's the year Gino Sarfatti — one of the most revered lighting designers in Italian history — founded Arteluce in Milan. Over the following decades, Gino created hundreds of lamp designs that are now studied in design schools, displayed in museum collections, and treated as canonical objects of twentieth-century modernism. His work fused engineering precision with an effortless visual elegance that has never gone out of style.
His son Riccardo Sarfatti carried the family tradition forward, co-founding Luceplan in 1978 — another landmark Italian lighting company that brought a new generation of design thinking to the industry.
Then came Alessandro Sarfatti, Gino's grandson. In 2014, working from Copenhagen, Alessandro founded Astep — a name that is at once a step forward and a deeply considered act of tribute. His mission was clear: to bring the extraordinary legacy of Gino Sarfatti's work back into production with contemporary precision, while also creating new designs that honor that heritage without being constrained by it.
The result is a collection that feels simultaneously timeless and urgently contemporary — lights that belong equally in a restored mid-century apartment and a sleek, newly built loft.
The Design Philosophy: Where Heritage Meets Innovation
Astep's genius lies in what Alessandro Sarfatti understands better than almost anyone in the industry: that the best design objects are not period pieces. They are answers to problems that don't change — how to cast light with beauty, how to give a room a focal point, how to make the act of illuminating a space feel like a gesture of taste and intention.
The Astep collection achieves this through two parallel approaches. The first is the faithful reissue of Gino Sarfatti's greatest works — lamps like the Model 537, the Model 548, and the iconic opaline sphere series — produced with the same precision and commitment to form that Gino brought to them decades ago, now updated with contemporary LED technology and modern electrical standards.
The second is a dialogue with the architects and designers who worked alongside Gino Sarfatti in his most creative years. Chief among them is Vittoriano Viganò, the Italian architect and designer whose VV Cinquanta lamp — designed in 1951 — has become one of Astep's most celebrated contemporary productions. With its signature pivoting arm, directional shade, and instantly recognizable silhouette, the VV Cinquanta is a piece that feels completely current no matter what decade you're standing in.
The philosophy tying it all together: bring digital technologies to the forefront of home design while revitalizing iconic works. This is not nostalgia. This is design with purpose, craft, and a rare confidence in its own history.
The Collection: Astep Lighting at LoftModern.com
The complete Astep collection at LoftModern.com offers 29 exceptional pieces across every lighting category. Here are the ones worth knowing intimately.
💡 The VV Cinquanta Family — A Mid-Century Masterpiece, Alive Today
No piece in the Astep lineup tells the brand story more completely than the VV Cinquanta family. Designed by Vittoriano Viganò in 1951, this is a lamp with one of the most elegant mechanical logics in the history of lighting design: a slender arm that pivots and extends, supporting a shade that tilts and swivels to direct light exactly where you need it. It is rigorously functional and visually thrilling — the perfect embodiment of why great mid-century design has never needed updating, only careful re-making.
Astep VV Cinquanta Wall Light — $1,050
The entry point into the VV Cinquanta family and one of Astep's most accessible pieces. Available in multiple colorways — Black Frame/Black Shade, Brass Mount/Black Reflector, Brass Mount/White Reflector, and more — this is a wall light that transforms any room it enters. Mount it beside a bed, a reading chair, or a desk and it becomes both a practical tool and the most beautiful object on the wall.
Astep VV Cinquanta Wall Twin Light — From $2,800
Two VV Cinquanta arms on a single mount — a doubled-down commitment to the design. The Twin configuration creates a sense of architectural symmetry and presence that a single sconce simply cannot match. Perfect for flanking a headboard, a fireplace, or a large piece of wall art.
Astep VV Cinquanta Floor Lamp — From $2,050
Standing tall and impossibly lean, the VV Cinquanta Floor Lamp is the kind of piece that makes a room feel curated rather than furnished. Its adjustable head means it can function as a reading lamp, an ambient accent, or a dramatic directional beam — a genuine chameleon that works in every living context.
Astep VV Cinquanta Suspension — From $4,200
Hung from the ceiling, the VV Cinquanta takes on an entirely new dimension — literally. The suspension version transforms the lamp's mechanical beauty into a sculptural overhead presence, making it ideal for dining rooms, entryways, or any space that calls for a centerpiece that earns its position.
✨ The Opaline Sphere Series — Liquid Light, Suspended
If the VV Cinquanta represents Astep's more angular, architectural side, the opaline sphere series is its softer, more atmospheric counterpart. These are lamps built around hand-blown glass globes that diffuse light into a warm, glowing luminosity — spheres that float in space and fill a room with an almost otherworldly quality of light.
Astep Model 2042 — 3 Opaline Spheres Ceiling Light — $4,750
Three opaline spheres arranged in a sculptural cluster — this ceiling light transforms any room into something that feels genuinely considered. The interplay of the globes at different positions creates depth, shadow, and a gentle dynamism that changes with the time of day and the level of light around them.
Astep Model 2042 — 6 Opaline Spheres Ceiling Light — $6,000
Double the spheres, double the drama. The six-globe configuration creates a more expansive overhead installation — ideal for larger rooms, open-plan living spaces, or anywhere you want the ceiling to become as interesting as everything beneath it.
Astep Model 237-1 Wall Light — $1,040 and Model 237-2 Wall Light — $1,600
The opaline sphere language transferred to the wall — one sphere or two, each casting a pool of warm, diffused light that feels more like moonlight than electricity. Available in black or champagne mounts, these wall lights are among the most quietly beautiful pieces in the Astep range.
Astep Model 238-1 Wall Light — $1,080 and Model 238-2 Wall Light — $1,650
The larger-sphere siblings of the 237 series, with 20cm diameter globes that command more presence on the wall. The 238-2's dual-sphere configuration is particularly striking — two luminous orbs mounted in close formation, creating a soft, considered glow that works beautifully in bedrooms, hallways, and living areas.
Astep Model 237-1 — Opaline Sphere with Switch — $1,540 and Model 238-1 Switch — $1,150
The switched versions of the opaline sphere wall lights — practical additions that allow independent control without hardwiring, making them ideal for flexible installation in a variety of settings.
🏆 The Chandeliers — Statement Lighting at Its Most Spectacular
For spaces that deserve a truly exceptional overhead moment, Astep's chandelier range — built around constellations of opaline spheres on architectural frames — is in a category of its own.
Astep Model 2109-12-14 Chandelier — $11,400
Twelve opaline spheres, each 14cm in diameter, arranged in a three-dimensional constellation on a sculptural frame. In champagne or black, this chandelier transforms the ceiling of any room into an event. It is the kind of fixture that makes guests stop mid-sentence.
Astep Model 2109-16-14 Chandelier — $14,000
Sixteen spheres. More drama, more presence, more of everything that makes this series extraordinary. This is the chandelier for grand dining rooms, double-height entries, and any space that has the ceiling height and the ambition to match.
Astep Model 2109-16-20 — $16,400 and Model 2109-24-14 — $19,900
The most expansive expressions of the Model 2109 series — 16 larger spheres or 24 smaller ones, filling the space above with a floating galaxy of light. These are architectural installations as much as they are lighting fixtures — the kind of investment that defines a room, and a home, for decades.
🕯️ Table & Portable Lamps — Artistry at the Human Scale
Astep Model 537 Table Lamp — $1,750
The Model 537 is Gino Sarfatti's masterpiece from 1950 — a table lamp of such precise elegance that it has never stopped looking contemporary. The adjustable shade, the considered proportions, the quality of the light it produces: this is the lamp that defines what a designer table lamp should be. Available in black or natural finishes, it belongs on any desk, console, or bedside table where beautiful things are valued.
Astep Model 548 Table Lamp — $2,490
Another Gino Sarfatti original, the Model 548 brings a more organic warmth to the table lamp form — its dark burnished brass finish and diffused glow making it as compelling as an object as it is functional as a light source. Available in multiple finishes including dark burnished brass with grey diffuser and brass with white diffuser.
One of Astep's newer additions to the collection, the Model 262 brings a refined, quietly architectural presence to tabletop lighting — clean lines, considered proportions, and the characteristic Astep quality of light that makes every surface it touches look its best.
Astep Pepa Portable Table Lamp — $1,090
Portable, cordless, and beautifully formed, the Pepa is Astep's answer to the modern demand for lighting that moves with you. Take it from the dining table to the terrace, from the bedroom to the living room — its warm, diffused glow adapts to every context without losing an ounce of its design integrity.
Astep Nox Portable Lamp — $1,650
The Nox elevates the portable lamp concept into genuine luxury territory. Its sculptural presence and warm, ambient light make it as compelling as a decorative object as it is useful as a portable light source. This is the lamp for the coffee table, the outdoor dining setup, or the guest room that deserves something special.
🔆 Pendants & Suspensions — The Architecture of Overhead Light
Astep Model 2065 Pendant Light — From $2,900
A pendant light with the directional precision of a spotlight and the visual character of a sculpture. The Model 2065's architectural form allows it to cast focused, warm light while remaining a genuinely beautiful object to look at from below. Available in multiple configurations to suit different ceiling heights and spatial needs.
Astep Model 2065 Wall — $3,450–$3,600
The wall-mounted version of the 2065 family brings the same architectural precision to vertical surfaces — a lighting form that reads as intentional design rather than an afterthought.
Astep Model 2050 — Wire Suspension — From $2,650
Suspended on fine cables, the Model 2050 achieves a remarkable visual lightness — it appears to float, the wire almost invisible from a distance, leaving only the lamp form itself suspended in space. In Pearl or other available finishes, it's one of the most quietly dramatic pendants in the entire collection.
Astep Isol Suspension 30/76 — $2,850 and Isol Suspension 30/126 — $3,350
The Isol series brings a warm, enveloping quality of diffused light in pendant form — the 30cm diameter globe available in two drop lengths (76cm and 126cm) to suit different ceiling heights and spatial contexts. In black, the Isol reads as a bold sculptural statement; its light output is correspondingly generous and inviting.
Astep SB Cinquantotto Pendant Light — $980
The most accessible pendant in the Astep collection and one of the best value-to-impact pieces in the entire lineup. The SB Cinquantotto's clean, considered form and warm light quality make it ideal for kitchen islands, dining tables, or any space where an overhead fixture needs to earn its position without dominating the room.
Astep Sorpresa Pendant Lamp 39.5" — $980
The Sorpresa — "surprise" in Italian — lives up to its name. Its generously scaled 39.5-inch form makes it a commanding presence in any space, yet its white opaline diffuser casts a light so warm and inviting that the lamp manages to feel both grand and welcoming at once.
Why Astep Is an Investment That Appreciates Over Time
Buying an Astep piece is not the same kind of decision as buying a light fixture. Here's why it's a fundamentally different investment:
You are buying design history — literally. The Model 537 is a Gino Sarfatti original from 1950. The VV Cinquanta was designed by Vittoriano Viganò in 1951. These are not interpretations or inspirations — they are the real designs, produced by the family that created them, with access to the original intentions and specifications. Objects with this provenance appreciate in cultural value over time, not just functional value.
The quality is not decorative. Astep manufactures with Italian precision and uses contemporary LED technology integrated into forms designed for longevity. These are not lamps that will feel dated in five years. They are lamps built around design principles so fundamental that they were already timeless in 1950.
Lighting is the most transformative investment in any interior. Changing your sofa changes your sofa. Changing your lighting changes the entire feeling of your home — the warmth, the mood, the sense of space. An Astep fixture does this work more effectively, and more beautifully, than almost anything else available at any price point.
They look better with other beautiful things. Astep pieces have an unusual quality: they elevate everything around them. Place an Astep lamp in a room and the other objects in the room — the furniture, the art, the textures — suddenly look more considered. Great lighting is a multiplier for the rest of your interior investment.
Explore the Full Astep Collection at LoftModern.com
LoftModern.com is an authorized retailer of Astep, offering the full collection with free shipping on orders over $100 and trade discount programs for interior designers and design professionals.
Browse the complete Astep Lighting Collection at LoftModern.com and find the pieces that will change the way you experience light at home.
While you're exploring, discover more exceptional lighting categories at LoftModern:
- Table Lamps — The full range of designer table lamps for every room
- Pendant Lights — Overhead lighting that anchors a space with intention
- Wall Lights — Sconces and wall fixtures that give walls a purpose
- Floor Lamps — Standing lamps that define the atmosphere of a room
- Chandeliers — Grand overhead statements for spaces that deserve them
- Outdoor & Garden — Extend beautiful design thinking to your outdoor spaces
The Bottom Line
A lamp is a necessity. An Astep lamp is a decision — a choice to surround yourself with objects that carry weight, meaning, and an exceptional standard of beauty. Whether you start with the VV Cinquanta Wall Light at $1,050 or invest in the full drama of the Model 2109 chandelier, you are bringing three generations of Sarfatti design intelligence into your home. That is not a purchase. That is an inheritance.
Shop the full Astep Lighting collection at LoftModern.com →
LoftModern.com — Free Shipping & Trade Discount on orders over $100. Authorized Astep Retailer.