Swiss architect Mario Botta may be renowned for his impressive postmodern architecture projects such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, but the chairs, lighting and other furniture he created reflect a mastery of geometrically rich forms and an elegant application of simple symmetry.
Born in Mendrisio, Switzerland, in 1943, Botta gained an interest in architecture at an early age. He apprenticed at the architectural firm Carloni and Camenisch and designed his first building — a two-family house at Morbis Superiore in Ticino — at age 16. During the early 1960s, Botta attended the Liceo Artistico in Milan and then studied at the University Institute of Architecture in Venice under art historian Giuseppe Mazzariol and influential Italian architect Carlo Scarpa.
While studying in Venice, Botta worked for Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier — whose career spanned hundreds of architecture projects — and gained inspiration from Estonian-American architect Louis Kahn, who was known for his modern and brutalist architectural style. In 1969, Botta completed his studies and established his practice in Lugano, designing and building single-family homes.
Throughout the 1970s, Botta gained fame for his innovative, geometrical designs and deceptively simple forms, such as his first large-scale building project in 1977 — the Middle School in Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland. Botta later established himself as one of the masters of 1980s postmodern design in his architecture and his furniture. His postmodern ideas characterize the dining room tables and seating he designed for companies such as Alias, as well as his table lamps and floor lamps for Artemide.
Botta’s noteworthy architectural projects designed during the 1990s and 2000s include the Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center in Tel Aviv, Israel; the Monastery of the Holy Apostles Saint Peter and Andrew in Lviv, Ukraine; and the Theater of Architecture in Mendrisio, in 2018.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Mario Botta lighting fixtures, seating, tables and decorative objects.
| Average Sold Price |
| $2,808 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
$2,628 / item
H 18.51 in W 10.63 in D 9.45 in
Mario Botta for Artemide, "Fidia" Wall Lamp, Italy, 1980s
By Artemide, Mario Botta
Located in Naples, IT
Extremely rare wall lamp, model "Phidias" by Mario Botta. Designed and manufactured in Italy, 1985. White powder-coated metal and plastic fitments. Both the outer and inner metal pa...
Metal
$6,950 / set
H 13 in W 13 in D 13.39 in
1 'of 4' Pair of Silver Artemide Shogun Wall Lights by Mario Botta, 1980s
By Artemide, Mario Botta
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant pair of Artemide Shogun Parete wall lamps designed by Mario Botta for Artemide, Milano, Italy in 1980s. Marked on the frame. Mario Botta is a postmodern Swiss architect and designer, renowned for his striking geometric forms. Artemide is a Italian manufacturer founded by Ernesto Gismondi and Sergio Mazza in 1960. The design of the lamp is based upon the form of a samurai’s visor. The two perforated silver enameled steel sheet shades are adjustable, which creates a great light / shadow effect. Production of the Shogun wall sconces, designed by Mario Botta for Artemide in the 1980s, was limited to that decade. Each wall sconce bears the manufacturer’s stamp on the base. The wall sconce has been out of production since the late 1980s and is now only available as a vintage original. The Shogun wall lamp...
Metal, Silver Plate
Shogun wall lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide , 1980s
By Mario Botta, Artemide
Located in Athens, Attiki
The Shogun wall lamp was designed in the 1980s by Italian designer Mario Botta for the manufacturer Artemide. It is known for its distinctive design, which combines geometric shapes ...
Metal
Mario Botta for Artemide ‘Shogun’ Floor Lamp
By Mario Botta, Artemide
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Botta for Artemide, 'Shogun' floor lamp, aluminum, steel, Italy, 1986 Mario Botta referred to lamps as “people”. He said: "Shogun is a person. He has a head, body and feet, ...
Aluminum, Steel
Shogun Floor Lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide, 1980s
By Artimide, Mario Botta
Located in Littleton, CO
An iconic postmodern design by Swiss architect and designer Mario Botta, the Shogun floor lamp was produced by Artemide in Italy during the 1980s and has since become one of the comp...
Metal, Enamel, Iron
'Shogun' Table Lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide
By Artemide, Mario Botta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Shogun' Table Lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide. Originally designed in 1986, the authorized re-edition of this table lamp is still made in Italy today using only the finest quality materials and scrupulous attention to detail by Artemide. 'Shogun' is part of the Artemide masterpieces collection and is featured in the collections of museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The lamp remains an icon, and a stunning work of contemporary design. Its adjustable shade marries functionality with design eloquently. Mario Botta was born in 1943 in Mendrisio, Switzerland. In his work he took inspiration from such masters as Le Corbusier, Louis I...
Metal, Steel
"Charlotte" Chair by Mario Botta for Horm, Italy, 1990s
By Horm, Mario Botta
Located in Milan, IT
"Charlotte" chair by Mario Botta for Horm. Sculptural cold shape contrasts with warm feeling of full wicker body.
Wicker
$9,950 / set
H 13 in W 13 in D 13.39 in
Set of 3 Silver Artemide Shogun Wall Lights by Mario Botta, 1980s
By Mario Botta, Artemide
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant set of 3 Artemide Shogun Parete wall lamps designed by Mario Botta for Artemide, Milano, Italy in 1980s. Marked on the frame. Mario Botta is a postmodern Swiss architect and ...
Metal, Silver Plate
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| $2,808 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $1,535-$4,500 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |
