Metalarte
Lighting classics of yesterday and tomorrow
From metal workshop to lighting factory
The story of Metalarte begins in the early 1930s and is closely linked to that of the Riera Clariana family. In 1932, Antonio Riera Clariana founded a metalworking shop. Here, he primarily completed custom orders using raw metal and occasionally created handcrafted pieces. With the expertise gained from ten years of metalworking, the first lamp, named 'No. 1', was created in 1942.
Innovation and a spirit of experimentation
From the very beginning, Riera Clariana's work has been characterized by his pursuit of perfection, innovation, and a spirit of experimentation, qualities that continue to be reflected in Metalarte's lighting designs. Clariana is fascinated by the diverse possibilities of different materials and their sometimes contrasting interplay. Metalarte objects tell stories of flowing, rounded forms as well as the angular silhouettes of geometry.
Material and manufacturing
‚'Alta Costura', 'Dojo', 'Inout', 'Josephine', and 'Shoelaces' are lighting families from Metalarte that undoubtedly showcase the uniqueness of the material and craftsmanship and are available at the TAGWERC Design STORE. Not to be forgotten is the 'Walden Lighting Collection', a design classic par excellence, based on the work of Danish designer George W. Hansen.
Fateful Encounter
Fate brought Hansen and Riera Clariana together in his adopted home of Barcelona. Hansen, who was on a journey of inspiration in the 1950s, which included a trip to the USA, was searching for a manufacturer to produce his now-legendary lamps with their characteristic swinging arms. After a visit to Barcelona, Hansen was impressed by Riera Clariana's manufacturing principles. This marked the beginning of a decades-long collaboration.
Collaboration with designers
After moving to a factory building in Sant Joan Despí in the early 1960s, collaborations with various designers were significantly intensified until the 1970s. Metalarte produced the first lamp by Philippe Starck and the first halogen lamp in the company's history. table lamp ‚'Modelo Calder' by Enric Franch from 1974. The latter is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. The list of Designer, The list of designers whose designs are still produced by Metalarte today is long. Besides Hansen and Franck, the following designers were involved: André Ricard, Josep Llusc, Estudi Blanc, Josep Aregall, Oscar and Sergi Devesa, Antoni Arola, Lievore Altherr Molina, Ricard Ferrer, Héctor Serrano, Jordi Llopis, Ana Mir, Emili Padrés, Otto Canalda and Ramén Ebeda.
Manufacturing and Metal Lab
The founder's children, Antonio Junior and Carlos, joined the company and continued its operations. After the turn of the century, Metalarte relocated once again, this time to Paseo de la Ribera in Canovelles, about 35 kilometers north of Barcelona. Here, in addition to the showroom, production facilities, warehouse, and shipping department, a 'Metalab' was established – a development laboratory for innovative lighting solutions.
Catalan pioneering spirit
Metalarte has remained loyal to the Barcelona region to this day and is still run here in the spirit of the original family business. The values and principles of the company's founder have been preserved and adapted to new materials and technologies – where tradition meets modernity. A selection of Metalarte lighting classics, both past and present, is available at the TAGWERC Design STORE. As an official distributor of Metalarte, TAGWERC offers all original designs as well as original spare parts for lighting fixtures from the Metalarte collection.