Carlo Forcolini, Alesia, Artemide 1982

Carlo Forcolini’s Alesia lamp from 1982, is most certainly a product of its time. Not only because of its brightly coloured styling, but because its design is informed by the move in the 1980s towards the reduction of energy and the halogen light source. The lamp’s reduced dimensions and defined geometry would certainly not be possible with an incandescent source. Produced by the renowned Italian maker Artemide, the Alesia consists of a floating circular disc that incorporates a red mesh ceiling rose to hide (as well as reveal) the transformer that provides it with power. A bright yellow lamp shade swings like a pendulum from a metallic telescopic rod, which can be extended in length to a maximum of 2 meters. The Alesia is a truly exceptional object in which Forcolini has artfully allowed the light source and form of emission to identify with each other, giving rise to a single figure.

This example of the Alesia lamp is in good condition and working order but it has suffered some damage. There is a chip to the coating on one edge of the yellow reflector as well as a small kink to the telescopic rod. The lamp has been fitted with a new 55W halogen light source.