Rufus Dog Lamp by Fernando Cassetta for Tacman Manara, Italy 1970s

• item. table lamp, desk lamp

• model. Rufus Dog
• designer. Fernando Cassetta
• maker. Tacman Manara
• period. 1970s
• country. italy
• style. space age
• materials. plastic
  color. yellow, white, black
• dimensions. width 11 cm, depth 9 cm, height 20 cm
• condition. very good vintage condition. original and fully working. never used, with the original cable still wrapped. minor marks and light age-related wear. light oxidation visible inside the bulb holder.  the nose can be gently adjusted to direct the light.
• patent design 15185B.
• reference. 2054

DESIGN CONTEXT

The Rufus Dog lamp is one of the most distinctive examples of playful Italian design from the early 1970s. Created by Fernando Cassetta for Tacman Manara, it transforms a functional lighting object into a charming character through a remarkably simple combination of geometric volumes and expressive details.

Constructed entirely from molded plastic, Rufus dog lamp embodies the optimism and experimentation that defined much of Italian Space Age design. The oversized eye, rounded muzzle and compact proportions give the lamp an unmistakable personality while maintaining a clean and modern silhouette.

Unlike many novelty lamps of the period, the Rufus Dog achieves a rare balance between humour and design sophistication. Its sculptural presence makes it equally effective as a desk lamp, bedside lamp or decorative object, even when switched off.

Increasingly difficult to find in original condition, the Rufus Dog remains one of the most sought-after creations produced by Tacman Manara and a genuine icon of collectible Italian lighting.

Explore more collectible Italian lighting in our selection of Space Age lamps, playful plastic designs and iconic lighting objects from the 1960s and 1970s.