Pair of black Dalù table lamps, designed by Vico Magistretti, Artemide, Italy, 1960s

Description

Pair of black Dalù table lamps, designed by Vico Magistretti, Artemide, Italy, 1960s

Set of two table lamps designed by Vico Magistretti for the Italian manufacturer Artemide in the 1960s. The lamps are made of black moulded thermoplastic. Dalù is one of the finest designs to reflect the raw style of a great artist who saw design as the only way to connect with one’s fellow human beings—and thus placed beauty and everyday use on the same level.

Vico Magistretti was born in Milan. He attended Parini High School before beginning his studies at the Faculty of Architecture of the Regio Politecnico in Milan in autumn 1939. In 1943–1944, he moved to Switzerland, where he attended several academic courses at the Champ Universitaire Italien in Lausanne. It was there that he spent time with Ernesto Nathan Rogers, who had a key influence on his intellectual development. In 1945, he returned to Milan, where he completed his degree in architecture at the Polytechnic. He immediately began working for his father, the architect Piergiulio Magistretti, at Via Conservatorio. The 1950s were a very busy and productive period for the young architect, who came up with many innovative ideas and very quickly became one of the most prominent representatives of the third generation. Over the next few years, he worked as both a designer and an architect, creating furniture and objects that would always remain classics of contemporary production. It was during this period that he received the Compasso d’Oro for the Eclisse lamp (1967). Shortly afterwards, he began collaborating with important companies such as Artemide, Campeggi, Cassina, De Padova, Flou, Fontana Arte, Fritz Hansen, Kartell, Olivari, Oluce, Poggi, Schiffini Mobili Cucine and Gebrüder Thonet Vienna. His design work is part of the permanent collection of MoMA—the Museum of Modern Art in New York—as well as numerous other museums in America and Europe. In the field of architecture, it is worth mentioning his appointment as an honorary member of the Royal College of Art in London, where he was also a visiting professor. He also took part in exhibitions and conferences in Europe, Japan and the USA.

Founded in the 1960s, Artemide is one of the world’s best-known lighting brands. Known for its The Human Light philosophy, it can boast a strong record of achievement in lighting design and innovation. Over the years, the company filed numerous patents for inventions in order to develop innovative technological, mechanical and optoelectronic solutions. Artemide has contributed to the history of international design with products such as Eclisse (designed by Vico Magistretti), Tolomeo (designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina), Pipe (designed by Herzog & De Meuron) and the IN-EI Issey Miyake Collection, all presented at the Compasso d’Oro Awards. Artemide lamps are internationally recognised as icons of contemporary design and are exhibited in most museums with contemporary art and design collections.

The lamps have been preserved in their original vintage condition. They have scratches consistent with use. They require E14 screw-base bulbs with a maximum wattage of 40 W. They are fully functional. Visible traces of brand stickers remain.