Foscarini has expanded its portfolio of experimental materials with the launch of three pendant lights made from recycled lava.
The brands says the ranges transforms waste from volcanic stone processing into distinctive decorative luminaires.
Named Alicudi, Filicudi and Panarea after the volcanic Aeolian Islands, the collection has been designed by Alberto and Francesco Meda.
The pendants celebrate the rugged character of lava while demonstrating how discarded materials can be reimagined as high-end lighting products through a combination of industrial innovation and artisanal craftsmanship.
Developed in collaboration with lava specialist Ranieri, alongside Foscarini art directors Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces, the collection is based on a patented manufacturing process that recovers surplus chips generated during the cutting of lavic stone.
The technology enables the production of thin lava elements measuring just 8-10mm while retaining the strength and expressive qualities of the natural material.
Each pendant features an irregular surface distinguished by natural porosity and crater-like textures, ensuring every piece is unique.
Although manufactured using an industrial process, the lamps undergo hand finishing, creating subtle variations that reinforce their handcrafted appearance.
According to Foscarini, the project continues its long-standing exploration of unexpected materials for the lighting sector, combining sustainability with design innovation.
The forms of Alicudi, Filicudi and Panarea have been carefully developed to highlight both the possibilities and limitations of recycled lava, with each silhouette expressing the material’s volcanic origins.
’Unlike marble, lava is not quarried,’ Francesco Meda told the Circular Lighting Report. ‘It’s gathered directly from the mountain.
‘After an eruption the magma settles, becoming part of the terrain and forming blocks of lavic stone that can be crafted.
‘The cutting process generates a large quantity of surplus chips, which we wanted to salvage. The results are lamps in recycled lava, with a warm surface varied by porosity and craters.’
The collection also reflects the design partnership between Alberto and Francesco Meda, whose combination of engineering expertise and contemporary design delivers refined forms that balance technical performance with material expression.
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