Medusa Table Lamp by Oluce

Medusa is a glass table lamp with a metal dome floating inside a clear cylinder, designed in 2023 for Oluce by Quaglio Simonelli.

It comes in 3 finishes: Lacquered Black, Scarlet Red and Satin Gold.

The Design Story

Oluce, founded in Milan in 1945, describes Medusa as formal minimalism for a soft, warm light. The idea is elementary: a metal dome sits inside a glass cylinder. The dome holds the light source, and the glass spreads the glow across the surface the lamp stands on. The cable drops through the center of the cylinder and, in the play of reflections, seems to draw the tentacles of a jellyfish, which gives the lamp its name.

The Designers

Quaglio Simonelli is a design duo made up of Andrea Quaglio and Manuela Simonelli, who both studied at the Università del Progetto in Reggio Emilia. Philippe Starck invited them to join the creative center of Thomson Multimédia as product designers, and they spent more than a decade there and later at TCL, where Manuela became Global Strategic Design lead. Alongside that work they design technology products, furniture, decorative objects and packaging for beauty brands, mixing industrial production with craft methods. Their objects feel familiar while holding a few unexpected, poetic touches.

“The support does not uphold the lampshade but contains it.”

Oluce, on Medusa

How It Was Made

The metal dome stays suspended inside the cylinder thanks to a fold in the glass itself, so there is no visible fixing. The cylinder is Pyrex glass and the dome has a metal reflector inside. A fabric-covered cable and an on/off switch complete the lamp, which Oluce finishes in lacquered black, scarlet red or satin gold.

Downloads

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

Why You’ll Love It

Medusa is a lamp that seems to hover. The dome glows warmly inside clear glass, and the light fans out across a table, shelf or nightstand in a soft pool. The three colors make it easy to choose a quiet black, a bright red or a warm gold, and it looks just as good in a group of two or three as it does on its own.

Made for Real Life

The 4W LED is integrated, so there is no bulb to find or replace, and the 2700K light is warm and easy on the eyes. Turn it on with the switch on the cable. Wipe the glass with a soft dry or slightly damp cloth and avoid abrasive or solvent cleaners.

Product Details

Where It Shines

Put it on a nightstand, a desk, a console or a shelf where the glass can catch the light. It suits modern, minimalist and Italian-design rooms, hotels and bedrooms.

Questions We Hear Most

How big is the Medusa table lamp?

The lamp is 11.8 in (30 cm) tall and 6 in (15 cm) wide, which fits a nightstand, a desk or a narrow shelf.

How much light does the Medusa give?

It gives a soft, warm light of 500 lumens at 2700K with a CRI of 85 or higher, which suits ambient lighting and reading nearby.

Can I dim the Medusa?

No. The sheet lists the Medusa as not dimmable. It has an on/off switch on the cable.

Does the Medusa have a replaceable bulb?

No. The 4W LED is integrated into the metal dome, so there is no bulb to buy or match.

Which finish should I choose for the Medusa?

Lacquered black is the quietest, scarlet red adds a bright accent, and satin gold gives a warm metallic glow. Satin gold costs a little more than the other two.

Who designed the Medusa?

Quaglio Simonelli, the design duo of Andrea Quaglio and Manuela Simonelli, designed it for Oluce in 2023.

Why We Love It

Medusa is minimal and poetic at the same time. A simple dome in a glass tube becomes a small sculpture that gives the room a focal point, whether you choose one or a trio.

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