Guiding light: Artemide

A classic product is one that still looks fresh and functions as well as it did the day it was launched. Think of the Swiss army knife, the BIC ballpoint pen or the Gibson Les Paul guitar. The Tolomeo lamp from leading worldwide manufacturer of design and architectural lighting, Artemide, is another such product; an elegant and timeless object that is as popular with design lovers now as it was when it was first produced 30 years ago.

Italian designer Michele De Lucchi was on holiday at the seaside, watching fishermen manoeuvring nets attached to a system of poles and ropes, when he came up with the idea for an adjustable task lamp featuring a mechanism based around steel tension cables. “It seemed smart to me that you can suspend a rod with something attached to it using a small lever arm and a cable,” the designer explains. “That was the frame of reference I had in mind when I designed the Tolomeo.”

Artemide’s founder Ernesto Gismondi was impressed when he first encountered Tolomeo in 1986, and began manufacturing it the following year. De Lucchi worked closely with designer Giancarlo Fassina to refine the details that would ensure the lamp’s enduring popularity; the heavy base, polished-aluminium arm sections, and a matte-aluminium reflector housing the bulb. The materials and mechanisms, including the 360-degree rotating shade and exposed external cables, contribute to its engineered aesthetic and status as an icon of high-tech design.

Since its release, Tolomeo has been updated several times in response to evolving technologies, including more efficient light sources. De Lucchi has adapted the form of the lamp’s head to accommodate these new fittings, ranging from halogen bulbs to energy-saving LEDs, but effectively the product has taken these updates in its stride, retaining its original simplicity and functionality.

“Over the last few years lighting technology has radically changed,” De Lucchi points out. “It’s not just the light source that’s changed, but the whole concept of it that has been transformed. And precisely because of this it’s surprising and practically a miracle that the Tolomeo has been able to adapt to these changes.”

Tolomeo’s versatility is undoubtedly one of the main reasons for its success, along with Artemide’s commitment to developing versions that facilitate different contextual uses. The classic table-base version has inspired several large and small variations, ranging from the tiny Tolomeo Micro to the giant Tolomeo XXL. A table clamp, screw fastening or wall bracket offer different mounting options, while dimmer switches or movement sensors enhance the product’s functionality. There is even a series of coloured options that gives the lamp a more eye-catching and playful presence.

In 1989, Tolomeo was honoured with the Compasso d’Oro Award in recognition of its outstanding design, and it now resides in the collections of some of the world’s most famous museums. Perhaps the greatest tribute to Tolomeo’s enduring appeal, however, is that around half a million lamps are currently manufactured every year at a dedicated factory, offering a true indication of the product’s classic status.

© Architonic