One of the great icons of contemporary design is, without a doubt, the Ptolemy lamp. Unlike other famous designs, which passed from the home environment to the workplace, the ptolemy lamp It was specifically designed as a table light for work.

work lamp

The idea came from architect Michele de Lucchi and designer Giancarlo Fassino, who saw the need for a lamp flexible and modular for specific jobs table, like the drawing. It was in 1986 when Artemide, The great Italian lighting publisher launches this model, which gained immediate recognition and international market success. Hence, in 1989 he was awarded the compass d'oro, one of the most important world design awards.

Industrial inspiration

The designers were inspired by table lamps from the era of the industrialization Italian, but giving it an added value: the modularity. With mobile arms and diffuser, the lamp combines aluminum matt and polished anodized, at a time when aluminum was not yet widely used. It has a dynamic compensation system of springs y cable, which allows the complete mobilization of the arms and diffuser.

The family grows

The best known version is that of dessert, with a circular aluminum base, of considerable weight, which stabilizes the movement of the arms. From this, several versions have emerged, with different finishes and technical specifications. The original lamp (since, as is to be expected, it has had countless copies) can be obtained in color aluminum, white and black. The power and luminous flux can also vary, depending on the needs. It has intensity regulator and can carry presence detector.

The desktop model has a mini version, smaller, and different fastening options, either to the table or to the wall. There is also a version like wall sconce, and floor lamp in XXL format.

The parents of the child

Michele de Lucchi

Born in Ferrara in 1951, he graduated as an architect from the University of Florence. In his early days, during a period of radical architectural experimentation, he was a prominent figure in movements such as Cavart, Alchimia and Memphis. De Lucchi has been a renowned designer of lamps and furniture, from both Italian and European companies, such as Artemide, Olivetti, Alias, Unifor, Hermès or Alessi.

He has designed and restored buildings, numerous exhibitions of art and design, museums and projects public and private, which he has combined with his teaching work in the universities of Venice, Milan and Florence. His professional work has always gone hand-in-hand with his personal investigation of design and craft, exploring which he created a small publishing company called Private Production.

Giancarlo Fassina

After graduating in architecture at the Milan Polytechnic, he focused his work on lighting design. The light It has been his main profession, in all its forms and expressions, which is why he has always taken care of every detail, even the study of shadows, camera angles and exposures. Throughout his career he has collaborated with important lighting companies and has created numerous installations for exhibitions and museums.

He won, along with Michele de Lucchi, the Compasso d'Oro in 1989 by the design of the Ptolemy of Artemide.

in these almost four decades of existence, there is no doubt that the ptolemy lamp has become an emblematic design piece of the modern offices, not only because of its flexibility and adequate lighting, but also because of its light and polished design, but at the same time forceful and striking.

Photos: Artemide and OfficeSnapShot