Richard Sapper (German, born 1932); Artemide S.p.A.
ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer), aluminium, metal alloy; 4 x 30 x 30 in. (10.2 x 76.2 x 76.2 cm)
Gift of Artemide S.p.A., Italy, 1988 (1988.236.10)
With the "Tizio" lamp, designer Richard Sapper sought to redesign the standard desk lamp, creating one that was completely adjustable and featured a precise and intense yet small light source. After methodical experimentation, Sapper came up with a design wherein the very form of the lamp enabled its function. Using a sensitive counterweight system, the adjustable arm of the lamp can be manipulated into almost any position, allowing the user to direct the light source exactly where it is needed most. The arms themselves conduct electricity to the bulb, eliminating the need for extraneous wires and facilitating the precise balance of the arm. The lamp features a halogen bulb, marking one of the first uses of this type of light outside the automobile industry. Directed by its small reflector, the halogen bulb provides a highly concentrated, direct light source, which can be easily adjusted to suit the user.
