Conspicuous, beautiful and bare, the Acrilica table lamp, produced by Cesare "Joe" Colombo (1930–71) and his brother Gianni, is a high watermark of 1960s Italian lighting. Created two years after Colombo opened his own studio, the 1962 design — his first of many for Oluce — was modeled after a counter-ceiling light in the entrance hall of the Hotel Pontinental in Sardinia. The Acrilica, named for its incorporation of plexiglas, or acrylic glass, would function in much the same way as the hotel lamp, with fluorescent light rising from an obscured source in its base toward its gracefully curving thick plastic top. Colombo’s career, which spanned architecture, avant-garde painting and other disciplines, was tragically short. But he designed all kinds of modular furniture and appliances, including chairs, storage systems and more. Milestones such as the Acrilica speak to the widely influential body of work he left behind.
The Acrilica earned Colombo the gold medal at the Milan Triennale in 1964 and later entered the permanent collections of leading art museums. Its appearance was initially astounding, as it functioned as more of a kinetic sculpture than a piece of lighting, but it was also a remarkable technical achievement. At the time, it tested the limits of plastic — when Colombo introduced the Acrilica, the material he relied on had by then been utilized for lighting in strictly thin sheets as compared to the thick, expressive transparent body that would come to define the lamp, and it was reportedly difficult to manufacture. Still produced today by Oluce, the Acrilica is both loud and simple — an arresting piece of innovative design.
Joe Colombo ACRILICA 281 TABLE LAMP OLUCE 1962
By Joe Colombo, O-Luce
Located in Munich, DE
Joe Colombo’s 281 vintage model table lamp, aka the “Acrilica” lamp, is a magical design that utilizes the conductive properties of methacrylate to great effect. The light travels fr...
Metal
Mid-Century Plexiglass White Table Lamp Model ''Acrilica" by Joe Colombo, Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-century plexiglass white table lamp Model ''Acrilica" by Joe Colombo - Italy 1960s.
Plexiglass
'281 Acrylic' Oluce 1960s lamp by Gianni and Joe Colombo
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Milano, IT
White enameled metal and transparent methacrylate table lamp that won the gold medal at the 13th Milan Triennale. Due to the curvature and thickness, it allows the light from the bul...
Metal
$3,490 / item
Acrilica 281 by Gianni & Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Vienna, AT
The Oluce Acrilica 281 is a table lamp, with a transparent, wavy diffuser fixed laterally on a steel base. It was created in 1962 and designed by Gianni a...
Aluminum
Mid-Century Modern Italian Lamp Acrilica by Joe Colombo
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Joe Colombo, a table lamp, model Acrilica 281 for O-Luce. Joe Colombo, a table lamp, model Acrilica 281 for O-Luce. Designed in 1962, Gold Medal XIII Trie...
Steel
Joe Colombo Black Metal Table Lamp 'The Globe' by Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp "The Globe" designed by Victor Vaisilev in 1964. Table lamp giving direct and diffused light in trasparent blown glass. Metal base and structure. Manufactured by Oluce, It...
Metal
$1,216 / item
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in D 7.09 in
Joe Colombo 'Spider' Table Lamp by Oluce, Black Metal, Mid-Century
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp 'Spider' designed by Joe Colombo in 1965. Table lamp giving direct light, lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered aluminium. Manufa...
Metal
$1,839
H 44.1 in W 27.56 in D 3.94 in
Vintage Italian Design Spider Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce, 1960s
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Renens, CH
Vintage reading lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce, Italy, 1965. This mid-century modern design classic is an original version from the 196...
Metal
Globe Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Globe table lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. It is a simplistic and appealing design manufactured from hand-blown glass, producing a remarkable ambient light with the help...
Metal, Nickel
Set of Two Joe Colombo Mini Coupe Table Lamps by Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of Two Table Lamps model Mini Coupe designed by Joe Colombo. Table lamp giving direct light, lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered alumini...
Metal
Joe Colombo Model #291 'Spider' Table Lamp in Yellow for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Glendale, CA
Joe Colombo model #291 'Spider' table lamp in mustard yellow for Oluce. Executed in yellow lacquered metal and chrome, this is one of the most refined Minimalist Italian designs of the mid-century and an icon for Colombo. A highly adjustable table light...
Metal, Chrome, Aluminum
Coupe Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Coupe table lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. The Coupé series was initially conceived as a variation of the Spider family the smart yet simple mechanism that attaches the stem...
Aluminum, Metal
Joe Colombo Mini Coupé Table Lamp by Oluce, Mid-Century Modern
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table Lamp model Mini Coupe designed by Joe Colombo. Table lamp giving direct light, lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered aluminium. Manufact...
Metal
Orange Spider table lamp by Joe Colombo, Oluce 1960s
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brussels, BE
Joe Colombo designed the Model 293, also known as the Spider, a table lamp characterized by its arched metal stem with an adjustable clamp. Manufactured by Oluce in Milan, Italy, in...
Metal
Joe Colombo Model #291 'Spider' Table Lamp in Black for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Glendale, CA
Joe Colombo model #291 'Spider' table lamp in black for Oluce. Executed in black metal and chrome, this is one of the most refined Minimalist Italian designs of the midcentury and ...
Metal, Chrome, Aluminum
Joe Colombo Mini Coupé Table Lamp by Oluce, Mid-Century Modern
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table Lamp model Mini Coupe designed by Joe Colombo. Table lamp giving direct light, lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered aluminium. Manufact...
Metal
Acrilica Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Acrilica table lamp designed by Marco Zanuso Soto for Oluce. Initially known as the 281 model, created in 1962, and was immediately nicknamed “Acrilica” due to the surprising inn...
Steel
Joe Colombo for Oluce Table Lamp Mod.281, Italy 1960s
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Naples, IT
The Oluce Acrilica 281 is a table lamp, with a transparent, wavy diffuser fixed laterally on a steel base. It was created in 1962 and designed by Gianni as well as Joe Colombo. The e...
Metal
Acrilica Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce, 1962
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in bruxelles, BE
Lamp in plexiglass and metal. Wear due to time and age of the lamp.
Metal
Vintage Joe Colombo Acrilica Lamp for O-Luce
By O-Luce, Joe Colombo
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vintage "Acrilica" model lamp, designed by Joe Colombo for O-Luce, Italy, circa 1960s. This lamp looks incredible when lit, as the light originates in the base and travels up and out...
Metal
"Acrilica" Desk Lamp by Joe Colombo
By O-Luce, Joe Colombo
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A lucite and metal "Acrilica" desk lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce, Italy c.1962. This lamps disperses light evenly and creates a beautiful glow. This is a period example of a fantas...
Metal
