Philippe Starck, for Flos

PHILIPPE STARCK (Paris, 1949) for Flos.
“Bedside Gun” table lamp, designed in 2005. “Guns” collection.
Cast aluminum with a chrome finish and a white laminated paper shade, with a silver-screen-printed interior.
Original manufacturer’s label on the base.
In good condition.
Measurements: 42.6 x 23.6 x 23.6 cm.

One of Philippe Starck’s most provocative creations for Flos, the “Bedside Gun” lamp is part of the “Guns” collection, conceived in 2005 as a critical reflection on violence, war, and their relationship to economic power. The designer transforms the silhouette of a Beretta pistol into a domestic lighting fixture, creating a deliberate contrast between its everyday function and the symbolic weight of the weapon.

This version combines the chrome-plated finish of the structure with a white conical shade, the interior of which features a silver-screen-printed design. The contrast between the shiny metallic surfaces and the simplicity of the shade accentuates the piece’s sculptural character. The model is one of the most recognizable designs to emerge from the collaboration between Starck and Flos, in which visual provocation is integrated into a functional object.

Philippe Starck is one of the most influential figures in international contemporary design. His career spans furniture, lighting, architecture, and everyday objects, with notable collaborations with firms such as Flos, Kartell, and Alessi. Among his most renowned projects are the interior design of the private apartments at the Élysée Palace and the design of Café Costes in Paris. His work is represented in institutions such as MoMA in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.