Floor Lamp model “Omicron”
Manufactured by Artemide
Italy, 1961
Metal, glass
Measurements
40 × 40 × 170h cm
15,7 × 15,7 × 66,9h in
Provenance
Private Collection, Italy
Literature
Pansera, Anty (1990). Italian Design 1945–1985. Milan: Laterza.
Bassi, Alberto (2004). Italian Lighting Design 1945–2000. Milan: Electa.
About
The Omicron floor lamp, designed in 1961 by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, represents an early exploration of reduction and technical clarity that would come to define the designer’s approach to lighting.
The structure is composed of a minimal metal framework supporting a discreet glass diffuser, resulting in a composition that emphasizes verticality and balance. The lamp’s geometry is deliberately restrained, avoiding superfluous elements in favor of a clear and legible construction. This reduction allows the function of light to take precedence, with the structure acting as a precise support system rather than a decorative feature.
Magistretti’s work during this period reflects a broader shift in Italian design toward industrial production combined with conceptual rigor. In Omicron, this is evident in the way materials are used honestly and efficiently, without masking their inherent qualities. The metal provides structural integrity and linear definition, while the glass softens and diffuses the light, creating a calm and controlled illumination.
Rather than asserting itself as a dominant object, the lamp integrates seamlessly into its environment, embodying a quiet modernity. It stands as an example of Magistretti’s belief that good design should be intuitive, functional, and enduring—qualities that have ensured the continued relevance of his work within the history of modern lighting.
Biography
Vico Magistretti (b. 1920 - d. 2006, Milan, Italy) was one of the most influential architects and designers of the 20th century. Born into a family of architects, Magistretti graduated in the field in 1945. It was also in Milan where he developed his professional career, mainly focusing on architecture, urban planning and industrial design. Magistretti made history when he designed the “Eclisse” table lamp for Artemide, a piece composed of two spheres of different diameters, which can be darkened using a rotating cover. Magistretti's work is usually characterised by the use of simple lines and shapes.
Also, one of his most iconic designs is the “Atollo” lamp, a symbol of Italian design all over the world. The secret of this lamp lies in the geometric construction of its shapes: cone, cylinder and hemisphere form a luminous sculpture from which nothing can be removed and to which nothing can be added. The opportunity to reach as many people as possible and to offer affordable prices led him to explore all the possibilities of a new material at the time: plastic. A good example is the “Selene” chair, which he also designed for Artemide in 1969, recognised as the first design made from a single piece of moulded plastic, together with Verner Panton's Panton Chair. As happens in these cases, his democratising endeavour elevated him to the altars of design, and some of his pieces now reside in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
