The idea of the readymade didn’t just upend the art world, it also provoked a wave of invention in design. This provocative spirit is alive and well in the Toio floor lamp, which sees an integration of automotive parts as well as everyday recreational gear.
Along with their eldest brother, Livio, Pier Giacomo (1913–68) and Achille (1918–2002) Castiglioni were born in Milan and for a time, the three worked together in their own firm as architects and designers. While Livio departed the practice in 1952, Pier Giacomo and Achille would continue to collaborate on a wealth of projects in the ensuing years. The pair shared an experimental nature and injected personality and wit into the wide range of their celebrated mid-century modern designs, such as the Arco lamp, the Snoopy lamp and lots more.
Inspired by Marcel Duchamp, the brothers often used found objects in their designs, notably in the Mezzadro Tractor stool, the Super Sella stool and the Toio floor lamp. Produced by FLOS in 1962, the Toio (“toy”) incorporates a car headlamp and elements of a fishing pole. The height of the headlamp, which always faces up to provide indirect light, is adjustable, while fishing-rod rings at intervals along the stem help guide the electrical cord. At the base, a mechanism similar to the cleats on a boat keeps the cord neatly coiled and tucked away from view. These inventive utilitarian touches earned the fixture a coveted spot in MoMA’s permanent collection. Unusual and delightful in equal amounts, the Toio floor lamp is still manufactured by FLOS and reminds us that humor is a potent element of design.
FLOS Toio Floor Lamp in Red by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Buffalo, NY
Its designers named it for the English word for “toy,” for good reason: This inventive lamp inspires the imagination, blending an industrial style with a timeless and whimsical desig...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Italian modern white metal Toio floor lamp by Castiglioni Brothers, Flos, 1970s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni, Flos, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern White metal Floor lamp Toio by Castiglioni for Flos, 1970s. Floor lamp mod. Toio with diffuser for indirect light. The stru...
Metal
Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Toio, Floor Lamp, Flos, 1960s
By Achille Castiglioni, Flos, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Paris, FR
Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1913-1968) Toio A lacquered metal floor lamp. The half spherical bulb vertically supported with an hexagon shaped, nickel-plated brass stem on white enamel steel base supporting a green lacquered transformer. Flos sticker under the base. Produced by Flos, Italy. 1962. Literature Domus n°400, March 1963, p.49 Abitare n°14, March 1963, p.42 Ottagono n°30, September 1973, p.153 Giuliana Gramigna, Repertorio 1950/1980, Arnaldo Mondadori Editore, Milano, 1985, p.188 Sergio Polano, Achille Castiglioni, Pall Mall, 2012, p.192-193. Futurissimo, L’utopie du design italien...
Metal
'Bi Bip' Floorlamp by Achille Castiglioni for FLOS
By Flos, Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Brussels, BE
The Bibip Floor Lamp exemplifies Achille Castiglioni’s inventive approach to everyday design. Conceived in 1976 for Flos, the lamp features a movable shade and articulated stem, allo...
Steel
1960s Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo 'Light Ball' Table Lamp
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni, Flos, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Glendale, CA
1960s Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo 'Light Ball' Table Lamp. Originially designed in 1965 as a wall lamp, this rare table lamp variant is executed in attractively patinated bras...
Brass
FLOS Gatto Table Lamp by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Named for a “little cat,” this Castiglioni brothers creation sits softly on any table, offering a glowing diffused light. The lamp is done in the famous “cocoon” style that the duo w...
Steel
$1,750 / item
H 14.52 in W 15.51 in D 15.51 in
FLOS Snoopy Table Lamp in Black by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The playful personas of the Castiglioni brothers are evident in their Snoopy design, named for the beloved cartoon character and featuring a distinctive, light-hearted shape. The ori...
Marble, Steel
$1,885 / item
H 76.77 in W 6.69 in D 6.69 in
FLOS Toio Floor Lamp in Red by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Its designers named it for the English word for “toy,” for good reason: This inventive lamp inspires the imagination, blending an industrial style with a timeless and whimsical desig...
Stainless Steel
$1,750 / item
H 14.52 in W 15.51 in D 15.51 in
FLOS Snoopy Table Lamp in Green by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The masterful table lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni gets a dazzling makeover. Collectors now have a new reason to cherish the Snoopy table lamp by Achille and Pier Gi...
Marble, Steel
$1,750 / item
H 14.52 in W 15.51 in D 15.51 in
FLOS Snoopy Table Lamp in Orange by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The masterful Orange table lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni gets a dazzling makeover. Collectors now have a new reason to cherish the Snoopy table lamp by Achille an...
Marble, Steel
$1,650 / item
H 19.1 in W 15 in D 15 in
FLOS Taccia Small Table Lamp in Bronze by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Castiglioni brothers often created designs that challenged our perspective, and the Taccia, which gives the illusion of an upside-down hanging lamp, is an inspired example of tha...
Aluminum
$3,950 / item
H 91.33 in W 86.61 in D 11.5 in
Castiglioni Arco Modern Arch Stainless Steel & Marble Floor Lamp, FLOS, in stock
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FLOS Arco LED Floor Lamp by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni This lamp is ready for its close-up: Featured in Hollywood classics including diamonds are Fo...
Marble, Aluminum, Stainless Steel
$1,650 / item
H 19.1 in Dm 14.7 in
FLOS Taccia Small Table Lamp in Black by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Castiglioni brothers often created designs that challenged our perspective, and the Taccia, which gives the illusion of an upside-down hanging lamp, is an inspired example of tha...
Aluminum
Floor, Table Lamp Noce T by Achille Castiflioni for Flos
By Achille Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Padova, IT
Iconic floor side lamp Noce T designed by Achille Castiglioni and produced by Flos 1970s. It owes its name to the rounded shape that suggests a half walnut. T...
Aluminum
$3,549 / item
H 19.68 in Dm 26.77 in
FLOS Taraxacum 1 Pendant Light by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Make a wish: Named after the humble Dandelion, the Taraxacum pendant light astonishes with a gorgeously diffused blooming light. The white powder coated internal steel structure is s...
Steel
Flos Arco Floor Lamp with Marble Base by Achille Castiglioni
By Achille Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Basildon, London
The Flos Arco Floor Lamp is a timeless piece of lighting design. Designed by Achille Castiglioni, this iconic lamp features a sleek, curved arm and a sturdy ...
Marble, Aluminum
Sold
H 61.03 in W 7.09 in D 7.88 in
Toio Floor Lamp in Red by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Vigevano, PV
In questo apparecchio illuminante è sfruttato un faro d’automobile speciale da 300 watt, importato all’inizio degli anni ’60 dagli Stati Uniti. In Toio la sorgente luminosa suggeris...
Steel, Iron
Sold
H 61 in W 6.7 in D 8.3 in
'Toio' Floor Lamp by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos, Italy 1960s
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos, Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in New York, NY
Floor lamp model Toio designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos in the 1960s. Black lacquered metal base, hexagonal chrome drawn as a stem equipped with fishing rod l...
Metal, Aluminum
Lamp 'Toio' by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos Anni 80
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Milano, IT
Iconic indirect light floor lamp with steel base, steel profile frame, and hexagonal section stem made of telescopic nickel-plated brass.
Brass, Steel
Sold
H 20.48 in Dm 25.2 in
Taraxacum ceiling lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos, 1960
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Taraxacum ceiling lamp designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos, 1960, first production, amazing patina. Internal structure in white painted steel, sprayed with spec...
Metal
Sold
H 76.5 in W 8.27 in D 8.27 in
Flos Toio LED Red by Achilles And Piergiacomo Castiglioni Floor Lamp
By Flos, Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Basildon, London
With its legendary silhouette and diffuser inspired by car headlights, the Toio floor lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1962) is a 20thth Century icon. This model is feat...
Metal
Sold
H 76.5 in W 8.27 in D 8.27 in
Flos Toio LED Red by Achilles And Piergiacomo Castiglioni Floor Lamp
By Flos, Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Basildon, London
With its legendary silhouette and diffuser inspired by car headlights, the Toio floor lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1962) is a 20thth Century icon. This model is feat...
Metal
TOIO Floor Lamp by Achille & Pier Giacomo CASTIGLIONI, vintage
By Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Floor lamp designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1962. Italy, FLOS. Varnished steel base in black lacquer, adjustable nickel-plated metal stem. Classic lightbulb. Lit...
Metal
Italian modern red floor lamp Toio by Castiglioni for Flos, 1970s
By Flos, Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in MIlano, IT
Red floor lamp Toio by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos, 1970s Floor lamp mod. Toio with indirect light diffuser. The structure is made up of a rectangular base in red p...
Metal
Italian modern red floor lamp Toio by Castiglioni for Flos, 1970s
By Flos, Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in MIlano, IT
Red floor lamp Toio by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos, 1970s Floor lamp mod. Toio with indirect light diffuser. The structure is made up of a rectangular base in red p...
Metal
Sold
H 62.21 in W 7.88 in D 8.27 in
Lampada da terra Toio italiana moderna, metallo, di Castiglioni per Flos, 1970s
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos, Achille Castiglioni
Located in MIlano, IT
Lampada da terra Toio con diffusore a luce indiretta, la struttura è formata da una base in metallo verniciato bianco e uno stelo esagonale in metallo, che supporta il cavo elettrico...
Metal
Sold
H 62.21 in W 7.88 in D 8.27 in
Lampada da terra Toio italiana moderna, metallo, di Castiglioni per Flos, 1970s
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos, Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in MIlano, IT
Lampada da terra Toio con diffusore a luce indiretta, la struttura è formata da una base in metallo verniciato bianco e uno stelo esagonale in metallo, che supporta il cavo elettrico...
Metal
Sold
H 68.9 in W 6.7 in D 6.7 in
Toio 1st Edition 1962 floor lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Milano, IT
This matte black Toio lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos is a rare First Edition from 1962 The lamp exhibits a splendid patina throughout all its parts. Every component i...
Metal, Steel
