Vico Magistretti for Artemide

VICO MAGISTRETTI (Italy, 1920–2006) for Artemide.
“Dalú” table lamp, 1965.
ABS plastic.
Signed.
Measurements: 26 x 18.5 x 18.5 cm.
“Dalù” table lamp, designed by Vico Magistretti for Artemide around 1965–1966. Conceived as a continuous form of enveloping curves, this piece is an iconic example of the experimentation with molded plastic that characterized Italian design in the 1960s. Its organic silhouette is inspired by the geometry of two integrated hemispherical volumes. Originally produced in melamine and marketed in various colors, the “Dalù” reflects Magistretti’s ability to transform a simple industrial solution into an object with a strong visual identity. Reintroduced by Artemide in 2005.
Vico Magistretti (Milan, 1920–2006) was one of the central figures in Italian design during the second half of the 20th century. Trained as an architect, he graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1945 and pursued a career that spanned architecture, urban planning, and industrial design. His collaboration with Cassina spanned more than four decades, beginning in 1960, and resulted in seminal pieces of modern furniture, such as the Carimate chair, the Maralunga sofa, and the Nuvola Rossa bookcase. He also designed iconic objects for companies such as Artemide and Oluce. Among his most renowned creations are the Eclisse lamp, which won the Compasso d’Oro in 1967, and the Maralunga sofa, which received the same award in 1979. Considered one of the leading figures of “Made in Italy,” Magistretti succeeded in establishing a fruitful dialogue between design, technology, and industrial production. His work is part of the collections of major international museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.