Some lamps are so familiar you forget a person drew them. The arm-and-reflector silhouette you have seen on a thousand desks, the glowing white globe that looks like a moon on a stem, the crumpled-glass cloud over a living room: a lot of it traces back to one designer. This guide is the short, friendly story of Michele De Lucchi at Artemide, followed by 20 of his lamps from our shop and how to choose the right one for your room, especially now that the evenings are getting long and dark.
Who is Michele De Lucchi?
According to Artemide’s designer notes, Michele De Lucchi was born in 1951 in Ferrara, trained as an architect and was a member of the Memphis group in the 1980s, the Milan collective famous for playful color and shape. With Giancarlo Fassina, a longtime Artemide collaborator whose technical precision was key to the project, he designed the Tolomeo in 1987. It grew into a whole family, from Micro to Mega, and the Tolomeo won the Compasso d’Oro in 1989, with earlier recognition from the Oscar des Architectes d’Interieur in Paris and the Haus Industrieform Award in Essen, both in 1987.
Fun detail from our listing: look closely at M’s desk in the James Bond film Skyfall (2012). That is a Tolomeo Basculante table lamp. Few lamps say “serious work happens here” quite like a Tolomeo.
Which Michele De Lucchi lamp should I buy? Quick picks
| Lamp | Best for | Key spec from our listing |
|---|---|---|
| Tolomeo Classic Table Lamp | The icon on a desk | 3 mounts, up to 593 lm |
| Tolomeo Micro Table Lamp | Small desks, first apartments | 9 finishes, 3 mounts |
| Tolomeo Mini Table Lamp | Desk and nightstand | 3000K LED, 593 lm |
| Tolomeo Midi Table Lamp | Bigger desks and consoles | 2 finishes, 3000K |
| Tolomeo Floor Lamp | Bedside or sofa-side reading | Up to 593 lm, 2 color temps |
| Tolomeo Reading Floor Lamp | Armchair reading corner | 3000K, up to 358 lm |
| Tolomeo Classic Wall Light | Over a bed or desk, no floor space | 2 mounts, up to 593 lm |
| Tolomeo Wall Spot Light | Gallery wall, hallway | Up to 593 lm |
| Tolomeo Clip Spot Light | Shelves, headboards, beams | 3000K, up to 593 lm |
| Tolomeo Double Pendant Light | Over a desk or kitchen table | Two arms, aluminum |
| Castore Table Lamp | Holiday tablescapes, sideboards | Up to 296 lm, hand-blown glass |
| Castore Pendant Light | Over a dining table or stair | Up to 296 lm |
| Castore Floor Lamp | Quiet glow beside a sofa | White, Compasso d'Oro 2004 |
| Dioscuri Table Lamp | Window ledges, low tables | Globe diffuser, white |
| Dioscuri Wall and Ceiling Light | Hallways and entries | Globe, white |
| Ipno Pendant Light | Statement over a table | Clear finish, 3000K |
| Logico Pendant Light | Soft cloud light, living rooms | Red Dot 2002, 2 finishes |
| Logico Wall Light | Bedroom walls, entries | 2 finishes |
| Logico Table Lamp | Desk or sideboard | 4 finishes |
| Led Net Pendant Light | Dining room or open plan | 3000K, up to 1883 lm |
Why is the Tolomeo the lamp everyone knows?
It is the arm. The Tolomeo has an articulated aluminum arm system and an adjustable head with a stamped aluminum reflector that spreads light evenly, so one lamp can point where you need it and then get out of the way. The structure is aluminum, which gives it a light, sophisticated look and real robustness. You can mount it on a weighted table base, on a clamp that grips the edge of a desk, or on an inset pivot that sits in a hole drilled in the desktop. Tunable white on some versions lets you shift from warm evening light to a crisper tone for work.
What makes Castore, Dioscuri and Logico different?
Castore (with Huub Ubbens, who ran Artemide’s design department from 1997 to 2004) is a spherical diffuser hand-blown in opaque white glass on a tapering steel stem, available as a table, floor and suspension lamp, and it won the Compasso d’Oro in 2004. Logico (with Gerhard Reichert) takes its blown-glass shape from rays of light diffusing through the atmosphere and won the Red Dot Design Award in 2002. Led Net (with Alberto Nason) won the iF Product Design Award in 2011. Dioscuri and Ipno are De Lucchi’s globe and sculptural pendant: quieter pieces for people who like a calm room.
Tolomeo for desks, floors and reading corners
Artemide Tolomeo Classic Table Lamp
The original, Compasso d'Oro ADI 1989. Choose from 3 finishes, 3 ways to mount it (weighted base, desk clamp or inset pivot) and 2 color temperatures, up to 593 lumens.
Artemide Tolomeo Micro Table Lamp
The smallest Tolomeo, in 9 finishes with 3 ways to mount it and bulb-based or integrated-LED options.
Artemide Tolomeo Mini Table Lamp
A step up in reach: 3 finishes, 3 ways to mount it, and a 3000K integrated LED with 593 lumens.
Artemide Tolomeo Midi Table Lamp
2 finishes, 3 ways to mount it and 3000K light, the in-between size of the family.
Artemide Tolomeo Floor Lamp
The Tolomeo arm on a floor base, in an aluminum finish with 2 color temperatures and up to 593 lumens.
Artemide Tolomeo Reading Floor Lamp
4 finishes and warm 3000K light, up to 358 lumens, with a shade that softens the beam for long evenings with a book.
Tolomeo for walls, clips and pendants
Artemide Tolomeo Classic Wall Light
3 finishes, 2 ways to mount it and 2 color temperatures, up to 593 lumens.
Artemide Tolomeo Wall Spot Light
An aluminum finish, 2 color temperatures and up to 593 lumens in a compact wall-mounted head.
Artemide Tolomeo Clip Spot Light
Clips on where you need it: aluminum finish, 3000K light and up to 593 lumens.
Artemide Tolomeo Double Pendant Light
Two Tolomeo arms on one pendant, in an aluminum finish.
Castore: the glowing globe (Compasso d'Oro 2004)
Artemide Castore Table Lamp
A hand-blown opal glass globe on a slim white stem, Compasso d'Oro ADI 2004, up to 296 lumens.
Artemide Castore Pendant Light
The same blown glass globe as a pendant, in a white finish with up to 296 lumens.
Artemide Castore Floor Lamp
The Castore globe on a tall stem, in white, from the Compasso d'Oro ADI 2004 family.
Dioscuri and Ipno: globes and a sculptural pendant
Artemide Dioscuri Table Lamp
A globe-like diffuser in a white finish, lovely in groups of different sizes.
Artemide Dioscuri Wall and Ceiling Light
The Dioscuri globe as a wall or ceiling light, in a white finish.
Artemide Ipno Pendant Light
A sculptural pendant with a clear finish and 3000K light.
Logico and Led Net: sculpted glass and light branches
Artemide Logico Pendant Light
A blown-glass diffuser inspired by rays of light diffusing through the atmosphere, in 2 finishes. Red Dot Design Award 2002.
Artemide Logico Wall Light
The Logico diffuser as a wall light, in 2 finishes.
Artemide Logico Table Lamp
4 finishes, with the same sculpted glass shade as the pendant.
Artemide Led Net Pendant Light
A branching constellation of LEDs, 3000K and up to 1883 lumens, with the iF Product Design Award 2011.
How do I pick the right Artemide for my room this winter?
Think in jobs. For a desk or a small apartment, the Tolomeo Micro, Mini or Midi gives focused task light and can clamp on, so it does not eat desk space. For a reading chair, the Tolomeo Reading Floor Lamp offers warm 3000K light, and a Tolomeo Floor Lamp lets you aim the beam over your shoulder. For a holiday table or a dim corner, Castore or Dioscuri globes give a soft, candle-like glow without a flame. For a living room or dining room that needs a centerpiece, a Logico pendant or the Led Net pendant fills the space with light. Pair a Castore with a bowl of ornaments and you have a holiday centerpiece that stays up all winter. Dimmable versions let you set the mood from dinner to movie night.
Why are Artemide lamps worth the investment?
A lamp you use every evening should be built to keep going. These are Made in Italy, many are cULus listed, dimmable versions are marked on each listing, and Artemide lists a 5-year warranty on them. Several have won major design awards, and the Tolomeo has stayed in production since 1987 as a modular family, so bodies, bases and shades are available separately in our catalog if your needs change. A lamp designed to be the right shape for the job tends to be the lamp you keep for decades, not the one you replace after a season. That is the kind of buy you only make once, and it is why designers keep specifying it.
Related reading: Who is Kelly Wearstler?, the best desk lamp for a home office, what size lamp for a nightstand and designer table lamps. Browse all Artemide, table lamps, floor lamps, wall lamps and pendant lights.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Artemide Tolomeo lamp?
The Tolomeo was designed in 1987 by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina for Artemide. It won the Compasso d'Oro in 1989 and grew into a family from Micro to Mega.
Which Tolomeo size should I choose for a desk?
The Tolomeo Micro and Mini suit smaller desks, the Midi and Classic suit larger ones. Each can be mounted on a weighted base, a desk clamp or an inset pivot, so you can match the mount to your desk.
What is the difference between Castore and Dioscuri?
Castore is a hand-blown opal glass globe on a slim stem, available as table, floor and pendant lamps, and won the Compasso d'Oro in 2004. Dioscuri is a globe-like diffuser, available as a table lamp and as a wall and ceiling light.
Are Artemide lamps dimmable and covered by a warranty?
Dimmable versions are marked on each listing, and our listings state a 5-year Artemide warranty. Check the specific lamp page for the version you choose.
Is Artemide made in Italy?
Our listings for these lamps state Made in Italy.
Not sure which lamp fits your space? Ask the LoftModern design team and we will help you choose.