Inspired by Ashford and Simpson’s 1977 disco hit “Bourgie, Bourgie,” the Bourgie lamp by Italian designer Ferruccio Laviani (b. 1960) is a cheeky take on modern consumerism in the Western world. Laviani explained that he wanted to juxtapose our desire for wealth and status against our ever-increasing reliance on Chinese manufacturers to produce our so-called luxury goods. This, of course, was an irony that he deftly reveals with the lamp’s excessively showy baroque style and mass-market plastic material.
Laviani designed the Bourgie in 2003 for the Milan-based furniture company, Kartell, where he’d been working for 12 years, first as an exhibition designer and later as a furniture designer and art director. Kartell designers work mostly in plastics and thermoplastics, and the Bourgie lamp was no exception. For his Bourgie, Laviani used either a transparent or batch-dyed polycarbonate, which is both easy to recycle and incredibly durable. The lamp is currently offered in nine colorways that range from a simple translucent to a carousel of gold, turquoise, fuschia and orange.
Laviani told the New York Times that Dolce & Gabbana was a client when he conceived of the Bourgie lamp. “They came from baroque roots; it’s a part of the DNA of their company,” he said of the Italian luxury fashion house. “I always say I would never use gold if I’d never worked with Dolce & Gabbana. When I worked with gold in the Bourgie lamp, I was no longer afraid to use gold. I learned how to use it. It’s okay.”
Each variation of the shade casts different playfully colored shadows, making the lamp a statement piece for a living room or office.
Born in 1960 in Cremona, Italy, Laviani studied at a number of prestigious schools, eventually earning a degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1986. Since then, he has worked with a number of manufacturers and design companies as an architect and product and interior designer.
In 2013, Kartell invited 14 contemporary designers to reimagine the Bourgie lamp in their own style to celebrate the lamp’s 10-year anniversary. Philippe Starck, Christophe Pillet, Patricia Urquiola and Nendo were a few to take on the challenge, creating wild, whimsical and worshipful renditions of the classic.
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Multicolored Blue by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining Classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The Baroque style bas...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Multicolored Fuchsia by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Glossy Black by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
D/Vision.0 Deconstructed Cabinet with orange plexiglass by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Fratelli Boffi
Located in Lentate sul Seveso, Monza e Brianza
With D/Vision Ferruccio Laviani makes a process of decomposition and separation, on different levels. Starting from the trumeau, a fashionable item back in the 1950’s, he redesigns i...
Mirror, Plexiglass, Wood, Walnut
D/Vision.2 Green Brown Deconstructed Trumeau in Solid Wood, Glass and Brass
By Ferruccio Laviani, Fratelli Boffi
Located in Lentate sul Seveso, Monza e Brianza
Indulge in the avant-garde design of Ferruccio Laviani with the D/Vision .2 cabinet—an extraordinary piece that redefines the classic trumeau of the 1950s through a process of artist...
Brass
$1,128 / item
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Gold by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
F* Hole Gueridon Small Table in Mahogany Wood and Pink Fluo Hole by Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Fratelli Boffi
Located in Lentate sul Seveso, Monza e Brianza
The F* Hole Gueridon side table by Ferruccio Laviani is made of black ebony and covered by dark feather Mahogany. To its classic taste and proportions, decorative details are added,...
Brass
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Copper by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Metal
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Crystal by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style base is composed of three interconnecting decorated layers, while the large lampshade...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Silver by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in White and Gold by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining Classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The Baroque style bas...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Multicolored Titanium by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
Mid-Century Italian Venetian Chinoiserie Gilt and Orange Cabinet
Located in Kennesaw, GA
I love this sweet little Venetian cabinet! It is Orange with gilt chinoiserie that is hand painted, and a sort of platinum trim. The interior is a soft blue. The piece is a single dr...
Poplar
$2,995
H 56 in W 51.25 in D 21 in
Ettore Sottsass Style Postmodern Magenta and Orange Lacquered Cabinet
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Postmodern magenta and orange lacquered cabinet, bookcase, or bar cabinet In the manner of Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano USA, Circa 1980s Measures: 51.25"W x 2...
Wood, Lacquer
$395 / item
H 13.6 in Dm 9.2 in
Modern Tulip Bedside Table Lamp or Desk Lamp by Designline in Gold Brass
By Design Line
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A gorgeous tulip form table lamp, desk lamp or bedside lamp. It features a brushed brass cast aluminum base with mouth blown frosted white glass shade in an acorn form. It takes one standard bulb up to 100 watts. These retro lamps...
Aluminum, Brass
$936 / item
H 18.1 in Dm 4.9 in
Tato Italia 'Vox' Table Lamp in White Carrara Marble, Chrome, and Glossy Black
By Tato Italia, Lorenza Bozzoli
Located in Glendale, CA
Tato Italia 'Vox' Table Lamp in White Carrara Marble, Chrome, and Glossy Black. Lorenza Bozzoli was born in Milan, where she studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera. In 1985 ...
Carrara Marble, Aluminum, Chrome
$10,665
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French Louis-Philippe Style Handcrafted Glass Bookcase in Solid Cherry Wood
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This bookcase is made with 2 parts is made of French cherrywood and also available in oak. - The Upper part has 3 glass doors and 3 removable shelves on wooden racks. - The Lower ...
Wood, Cherry, Oak
Pair of Burl Wood, Brass and Glass Showcase Curio Cabinets
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Pair of china vitrine cabinets by Tomlinson are an excellent example of their timeless quality and design. This rectangular top cabinet features two doors with glass panels and brass...
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$5,515
H 59.06 in W 39.38 in D 16.54 in
Hollywood Regency Italian Cabinet in Brown Lacquered Wood and Brass, Italy 1980s
By Mario Sabot
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Marvellous and elegant Italian showcase cabinet from 1970. The excellent quality of dark brown lacquer with glass panels embellished and solid brass is mixed with a lacquered shelf ...
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Guillerme & Chambron Highboard in Solid Oak and Brass
By Guillerme et Chambron, Votre Maison
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, sideboard, solid stained oak, brass, France, 1960s This charming large sideboard is made by the designer duo Guillerme & Chambron. This p...
Brass
$75,491Sale Price|25% Off
H 92.52 in W 47.25 in D 20.87 in
Midcentury Trumeau Handpainted in Italy Wood Venetian Art Technique by Cupioli
By Cupioli made in Italy
Located in Rimini, IT
This Trumeau has been handmade using the technique of Venetian art. In the 18th century in Venice the fashion of lacquering spread. Using small prints, cut out and then glued on the wood, then handpainted and lacquered at the end. The finishing was in fact in shellac which, passed in several very thin layers, gave brightness and uniformity to the decoration. This type of finishing was placed both on the outside of the Venetian furniture of the eighteenth century, and on the inside of the drawers and doors . The wooden structure of this piece of furniture is hidden by a flowering of pleasant designs. The craquelé finishing tipical of ancient painting...
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$95
H 12.21 in W 6.7 in D 6.7 in
Kartell Take Lamp in Crystal by Ferruccio Laviani, Italian 21 Century
By Feruccio Laviani
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
The classic icon of the bedside lamp is revisited by Kartell's technology to become an industrial product in a variety of colour shades. The shape of Take is the result of the joinin...
Plastic
Guillerme & Chambron Cabinet in Solid Oak and Glass
By Votre Maison, Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, cupboard, solid oak, glass, France, 1960s Charming cupboard designed by the acclaimed designer duo Guillerme et Chambron. One can hide its pe...
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Contemporary Brutalist Cabinet in Solid Oak, Brown
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Pair of Black Bourgie Lamps by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Chicago, IL
These striking table lamps are the iconic Bourgie Lamp by Italian designer Ferruccio Laviani (b. 1960), manufactured by Milan-based furniture company Kartell. Inspired by Ashford and Simpson...
Plastic
Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell Black "Bourgie" Table Lamp, Italy 2015
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Naples, IT
Bourgie is a Table Lamp designed by Ferruccio Laviani and produced by the brand Kartell. The Bourgie lamp is a Baroque-style creation with a plissé-effect lampshade made of polycarb...
Plastic
Ferruccio Laviani Crystal "Bourgie" Lamps for Kartell, a Pair
By Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Bourgie lamps in crystal designed by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell. The Kartell Bourgie table lamp is a Kartell favorite due to designer ...
Plastic
Vintage Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Crystal by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Stockton, NJ
A vintage Kartell Bourgie lamp in crystal by Ferruccio Laviani.
Plastic
Table Lamp Kartell Bourgie Black by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Roma, IT
A lamp with an unmistakable style, a true best-seller by Kartell, Bourgie marvellously combines classicism, wealth and tradition with innovation and irony. The base, in Baroque style...
Acrylic
