The exhibition is curated by Studio Archeo 900 from Ferrara and features exhibits from the Cortopassi Collection. It was opened by Mayor Milan Bandic.
Paolo Cortopassi, the owner of the collection, said at the opening ceremony that all the lamps were original from their respective periods and that most of them were no longer produced and existed in very small quantities.
Italian Ambassador Adriano Chiodi Cianfarani said that the exhibition was part of the Italian Way of Life project conducted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote Italian culture in the world.
The exhibition is a prelude to the International Day of Italian Design which will be held in Zagreb on March 1, when a number of events will take place to promote design as one of the most innovative and most creative aspects of art.
The exhibition gives a chronological overview of Italian design through three key periods: from 1950 to 1965, from 1965 to 1980, and from 1980 to 2000. The lamps on show in Zagreb have been displayed in the world's prestigious museums such as New York's MoMA, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Louvre in Paris.
The exhibition was organised in cooperation with the Italian Culture Institute in Zagreb and will be open until March 18.