Calamaio LED Desk Lamp by Oluce

Calamaio is a desk lamp reduced to two slim stems, a pivot and a pinpoint of light, designed in 2023 for Oluce by Cervellieri, Di Lorenzo and Montini.

It comes in 3 finishes: Scarlet Red, Mustard Yellow and Satin Black Nickel.

The Design Story

Oluce, founded in Milan in 1945, builds lamps around one clear gesture. Here the gesture is movement. The head turns on a pivot between two cylindrical metal stems, and the whole body rests on a sphere set in a round base, so the arm swings wide and settles exactly where you aim it. Nothing is added that the job does not need, and the result reads as a small sculpture even when it is switched off.

The Story

Calamaio began as a classroom project. Three students on the Master’s in Lighting Design at Sapienza University of Rome drew a metal desk lamp built from two slender stems during a product design week. Franco Lettera, director of Oluce, reviewed the student work, picked this lamp, and Oluce put it into its catalogue. It was presented at Euroluce 2023.

The Designers

Marco Cervellieri is a Rome architect (born 1983) who works across interiors and product design and has collaborated with Light Drops and Roche Bobois. Giulia Di Lorenzo, also from Rome, graduated with honors in design and then specialized in lighting. Giacomo Montini, born in Brescia in 1997, studied product design and is drawn to new materials and production techniques. Oluce describes the trio as three young Italian creatives who pair pure, essential forms with a respect for industrial production.

“Designing Calamaio has been an invigorating journey.”

Giacomo Montini, speaking to Atmosfera Magazine

How It Was Made

Cervellieri describes the path from the student sketch to the finished lamp as concept sketches, 3D design, prototyping, engineering and then launch. Oluce develops and makes the lamp in Italy, and the body is metal throughout, finished in glossy scarlet red or mustard yellow lacquer or in satin black nickel.

Downloads

• Technical sheet (PDF)
• Assembly instructions (PDF)
• Product details sheet (PDF)

Why You’ll Love It

The LED sits at the very end of the arm, so the light lands on the page, keyboard or sketchbook instead of spilling across the room. The two lacquered colors are loud in the best way, a scarlet red and a mustard yellow that turn a work surface into a statement. The satin black nickel keeps the same silhouette quiet. Every version is all metal, which gives the lamp a precise, weighty feel in the hand.

Made for Real Life

The 2W LED is integrated, so there is no bulb to find or replace. Turn it on with the switch, swing the arm to the angle you want and leave it there. Wipe the finish with a soft dry or slightly damp cloth and skip abrasive or solvent cleaners.

Product Details

Where It Shines

Put it on a home office desk, a bedside table, a studio worktable or a shelf where you read. It suits modern, minimalist and Italian-design interiors, and the red or yellow versions work as a single bright accent against a neutral room.

Questions We Hear Most

How big is the Calamaio table lamp?

The lamp stands 14.6 in (37 cm) tall on a base 6.7 in (17 cm) wide, so it fits a desk, a nightstand or a narrow console without crowding it.

How much light does the Calamaio give?

It delivers 285 lumens at 2700K with a CRI of 85 or higher, a warm, directed beam meant for reading and desk work rather than lighting a whole room.

Can I put the Calamaio on a dimmer?

No. Oluce lists the Calamaio as not dimmable. It has a simple on/off switch, and the beam is aimed by turning the head and the stems.

Does the Calamaio have a bulb I can replace?

The 2W LED is built into the lamp head, so there is no bulb to buy or match.

Which finish should I choose for the Calamaio?

Scarlet red and mustard yellow are glossy lacquer for a bold accent. Satin black nickel is the quieter choice and blends into darker desks and shelves.

Who designed the Calamaio?

Marco Cervellieri, Giulia Di Lorenzo and Giacomo Montini designed it as students of the Master's in Lighting Design at Sapienza University of Rome. Oluce chose it for production, and it was shown at Euroluce 2023.

Why We Love It

Calamaio proves that a task lamp can be minimal and playful at once. It is a genuine Italian design object at a size that fits any desk, and the colors make it easy to give a room a focal point.

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