Floor Lamp Model “Colleoni”
Manufactured by Knoll International
Italy, 1971
Marble, Murano glass, chrome-plated steel

Measurements
90 × 257h cm
35,2 × 101,2h in

Provenance
Private Collection, Italy

Details
Manufacturer's Label

Literature
Graminga (Ed.). Repertorio 1950–1980, p. 250.
Fiell, Charlotte & Peter (2005). 1000 Lights, Vol. 2: 1960 to Present. Cologne: Taschen, p. 182.

About
The Colleoni floor lamp, designed in 1971 by Vico Magistretti, is a monumental and sculptural lighting piece that exemplifies the designer’s mature language and his ability to merge industrial production with architectural presence.
Composed of a central chrome-plated steel stem anchored by a solid marble base, the lamp rises vertically to support a constellation of Murano glass globes. These luminous spheres are distributed along the structure, creating a dynamic interplay between mass, transparency, and light. The use of Murano glass introduces a refined artisanal dimension, contrasting with the precision of the metal framework.
The composition can be understood as both a lighting system and a spatial intervention. Its scale and verticality give it an almost totemic presence, transforming it into a focal point within an interior. At the same time, the repetition of spherical light sources introduces rhythm and visual lightness, preventing the structure from appearing overly rigid or heavy.
Produced by Knoll International, the lamp reflects the internationalization of Italian design during the late 20th century, where collaborations between designers and global manufacturers expanded the reach of modernist principles.
In Colleoni, Magistretti achieves a balance between engineering and poetry: a system where each element—stone, steel, and glass—retains its identity while contributing to a cohesive whole. The result is a work that transcends its function, operating simultaneously as illumination, sculpture, and architectural gesture.

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.