The Tolomeo incandescent desk lamp is an icon of Italian modern design. It was designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1986 for the Artemide company. In its original configuration, it consists of a heavy base, two straight polished aluminum arm sections (each approximately 45 cm long), and a matte aluminum reflector head which can swivel 360º. Steel tension cables attached to springs hidden inside the arms complete the constant-tension structure. Tolomeo is the Italian transliteration of the name Ptolemy. In the dot-com period, it became popular as a symbol of conspicuous consumption and high design consciousness in high-tech companies as well as in architectural and graphic design offices. It won the Compasso d'Oro design prize in 1989.

See also

• Balanced arm lamps
• Aeron chair

External links

• Official web site of Artemide
• Comparison of constant tension lamp designs