Tolomeo Tavolo

Design Story

The Design

A classic among desk lamps! Designed in 1987 by the Italian designers Michele de Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassi the Artemide Tolomeo Tavolo is a table lamp that one could assume must stand in the tradition of the Memphis Group. Not only Michele de Lucchi belonged to the founding members of the post-modern design movement, but the Tolomeo Tavolo arose in the same epoch. However, unlike the provocative conceptual designs of the Memphis Group, the Artemide Tolomeo lamp is a prime example of function-oriented and aesthetically pleasing design. A two-part adjustable arm and an adjustable head enable the variable alignment and mounting of the luminaire, thus making the Tolomeo Tavolo the ideal desk lamp. The arm is vertically adjustable and swivels, while the lamp head is adjustable in all directions. Stylistically, the Artemide Tolomeo presents a very balanced and timeless impression. The Tolomeo Tavolo is part of a whole lamp family designed by Michele de Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassi including a floor, wall and a ceiling light.

Historical Context

When in 1987 Michele de Lucchi developed his Tolomeo Tavolo lamp, the so-called Memphis Group which he co-founded was entering its final throes. The defining Italian design movement of the 1980s stood for a new zeitgeist in which personal success, new communication techniques and comfort played a central role. The design of the 80s reflects these developments with bright colours, exaggerated shapes and unconventional, cheesy, innuendo. Together with pioneers such as Ettore Sottsass Michele de Lucchi turned the established design conventions on their head and so helped define the era. But Michele de Lucchi also responded to new developments and counter-movements to the radical Memphis Group. Almost predicting the soon to be omnipresent pragmatic design of the 1990s, in 1987 he created with the Tolomeo Tavolo a desk lamp which on account of its advanced functionality and timeless form has become a genuine design classic.

Manufacturer

Founded in 1960 the lighting manufacturer Artemide have their headquarters in Pregnana near Milan, Italy. Over the past five decades the Artemide programme has been and become home to numerous design classics, with many being awarded important international design awards - such as the Tolomeo which was awarded the Compasso d 'Oro or the Itis winning Red Dot Design Award. Indeed, in 1995, Artemide as a whole was awarded the Compasso d 'Oro. Artemide designs and manufactures its expansive lamp portfolio in two glass factories and research institutes in Italy and France as well as in plants in Italy, France, Hungary and the United States. Sustainability in terms of production, packaging and product functionality are central to the Artemide production process and as with the Human Light Concept build an integral part of the Artemide corporate philosophy. Developed in the 1990s by Carlotta de Bevilacqua the Human Light Concept revolves around meeting human requirements in terms of lighting. Not only is the space itself considered as such, but also the activities undertaken in that space, thus allowing basis for optimising the light delivery.