Ettore Sottsass "Callimaco" Floor Lamp by Artemide, circa 1990
View Similar Items
Ettore Sottsass "Callimaco" Floor Lamp by Artemide, circa 1990
About the Item
- Creator:Ettore Sottsass (Designer),Artemide (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 79.14 in (201 cm)Diameter: 15.36 in (39 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1983
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Sacile, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU236039709013
Ettore Sottsass
An architect, industrial designer, philosopher and provocateur, Ettore Sottsass led a revolution in the aesthetics and technology of modern design in the late 20th century.
Sottsass was the oldest member of the Memphis Group — a design collective, formed in Milan in 1980, whose irreverent, spirited members included Alessandro Mendini, Michele de Lucchi, Michael Graves and Shiro Kuramata. All had grown disillusioned by the staid, black-and-brown “corporatized” modernism that had become endemic in the 1970s. Memphis (the name stemmed from the title of a Bob Dylan song) countered with bold, brash, colorful, yet quirkily minimal designs for furniture, glassware, ceramics and metalwork. They mocked high-status by building furniture with inexpensive materials such as plastic laminates, decorated to resemble exotic finishes such as animal skins. Their work was both functional and — as intended — shocking. Even as it preceded the Memphis Group's formal launch, Sottsass's iconic Ultrafragola mirror — in its conspicuously curved plastic shell and radical pops of pink neon — embodies many of the collective's postmodern ideals.
Sottsass's most-recognized designs appeared in the first Memphis collection, issued in 1981 — notably the multihued, angular Carlton room divider and Casablanca bookcase. As pieces on 1stDibs demonstrate, however, Sottsass is at his most imaginative and expressive in smaller, secondary furnishings such as lamps and chandeliers, and in table pieces and glassware that have playful and sculptural qualities.
It was as an artist that Ettore Sottsass was celebrated in his life, in exhibitions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, in 2006, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art a year later. Even then Sottsass’s work prompted critical debate. And for a man whose greatest pleasure was in astonishing, delighting and ruffling feathers, perhaps there was no greater accolade. That the work remains so revolutionary and bold — that it breaks with convention so sharply it will never be considered mainstream — is a testament to his genius.
Artemide
Artemide is an iconic firm in the design world. The mid-century Italian company is one of the best known lighting manufacturers and its award-winning fixtures are held in museum collections everywhere. Vintage Artemide table lamps, pendants, ceiling lamps and other lighting represent a thoughtful merge between functionalism and eye-catching design.
Artemide, which is based in Pregnana, was founded by Ernesto Gismondi and Sergio Mazza in 1959. During that year, Mazza created the first table lamp for the manufacturer — a modernist work in glass, marble and metal that he called the Alfa. Gismondi, who studied aeronautical engineering at the Polytechnic University of Milan and missile engineering at Rome’s Professional School of Engineering, applied his knowledge of cutting edge technology and materials such as fiberglass resin to Artemide’s designs for lighting and furniture.
In 1967, Artemide won Italy’s Compasso d'Oro design award for its Eclisse table lamp, which was designed by Vico Magistretti two years earlier. Other award-winning fixtures include the Tizio table lamp designed by Richard Sapper and the Tolomeo table lamp.
Designed by Michele de Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina, the Tolomeo featured the patented George Carwardine mechanism used in the original Anglepoise lamp. De Lucchi would later be recruited to join visionary postmodern design collective the Memphis Group. Artemide’s Gismondi purchased the brand after founder Ettore Sottsass dismantled the collective in 1988, and it was bought by Alberto Bianchi Albrici in 1996.
Artemide’s list of design, innovation, sustainability and other industry awards is long and distinguished. The firm continues to actively collaborate with internationally revered designers and seek out new talent through workshops with design schools. The company’s deeply held values — energy-saving lighting, sustainable design and ethically sourced materials — characterize its current offerings, and Artemide furniture and lighting can be found in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and other institutions.
On 1stDibs, find Artemide tables, seating, floor lamps, chandeliers and more.
- Arteluce "Club" Floor Lamp by Pier Giuseppe RamellaBy Pier Giuseppe Ramella, ArteluceLocated in Sacile, PNCLUB 1195 floor lamp by Pier Giuseppe Ramella for Arteluce, circa 1985.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- "Fantasma" Floor Lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, Italy, 2005By Flos, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Sacile, PNFantasma grande for Flos 2005 The Fantasma floor lamp was designed by Tobia Scarpa for Flos in 1961. Its striking silhouette illuminates with a diffused light that illuminates wit...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
$4,433 Sale Price30% Off - Art Deco Lamb Skin and Metal Chrome Top Scandinavian Floor Lamp 1935 circaLocated in Sacile, PNArt Deco floor lamp, dated circa 1935. Lambskin upholstered base and shaft. Big chrome metal lampshade with small glass spheres on the base, which reflect the light all around.Category
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- MidCentury Italian Floor Lamp with flowing white and yellow diffuser, 1960s.Located in Sacile, PNItalian Floor Lamp with white round marble base, opaline and yellow metacrylate diffuser flowing between two wooden rods. This lamp is a fine example of the Italian production of th...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMarble
- Ilione Spiral Chandelier by ArtemideBy Toni Cordero, ArtemideLocated in Sacile, PNPendant light chandelier designed by Toni Cordero di Montezemolo for Artemide. Chrome spiral with Murano glass charms.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsChrome
- Artemide "Shogun" Table Lamp Designed by Mario Botta, Italy, 1980sBy Mario Botta, ArtemideLocated in Sacile, PN"SHOGUN" table lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide, Italy, circa 1987. Shogun is a table lamp with painted metal stem black and white adjustable diffusers in painted perforated steel sheet white. Diffuse lighting and high mobility of the speakers...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal
$2,129 Sale Price25% Off
- Ettore Sottsass Callimaco Floor Lamp for ArtemideBy Ettore Sottsass, ArtemideLocated in Glendale, CAEttore Sottsass Callimaco floor lamp for Artemide. Originally created in 1982, Ettore Sottsass’ “horn” of light creates the remarkable illusion ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsAluminum
$2,390 / item - Callimaco Floor Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Artemide, ItalyBy Ettore Sottsass, ArtemideLocated in PARIS, FRThis floor lamp was designed by the famous designer Ettore Sotsass for the Italian publishing house Artemide in 1982. In 1981, the designer founded Memphis. With the financial suppor...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Pair of Ettore Sottsass Callimaco Floor Lamps for ArtemideBy Ettore Sottsass, ArtemideLocated in Glendale, CAPair of Ettore Sottsass Callimaco floor lamps for Artemide. Originally created in 1982, Ettore Sottsass’ “Horn” of ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsAluminum
- Artemide Callimaco LED Floor Lamp in Multi-Color by Ettore SottsassBy Ettore Sottsass, ArtemideLocated in Hicksville, NYThe Callimaco is designed by Ettore Sottsass, a grandee of late 20th century Italian design best known as the founder of the early 1980s Memphis collective. The Callimaco is a powerf...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsAluminum
- Modern Colored Steel Callimaco Floor Lamp by Sottsass for Artemide 1980sBy Ettore Sottsass, ArtemideLocated in Casale Monferrato, ITCreated in the early 1980s by the great designer Ettore Sottsass, Callimaco is an object with an ambiguous and ironic design, a luminous sculpture inspired by the famous Greek artist...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
- Italian Modern Colored Steel Callimaco Floor Lamp by Sottsass for Artemide 1980sBy Ettore Sottsass, ArtemideLocated in MIlano, ITItalian grey, red and yellow steel Callimaco floor lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Artemide, 1982. Callimaco model floor lamp with conical base in dark gray painted steel, yellow cylind...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel