SOLD
A rare desk version of the Artemide 70s lamp Telegono, designed by Vico Magistretti. The sculptural black body incorporates an unusual pencil holder, while the adjustable white diffuser directs light through one of Magistretti’s most recognizable plastic forms.
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Designed by Vico Magistretti in 1966 and produced by Artemide from 1968 to 1979, the Telegono is one of the most distinctive examples of Italian plastic lighting from the period. This Artemide 70s lamp Telegono was part of the early generation of design pieces through which Artemide established its increasingly experimental approach to domestic lighting.
Its sculptural construction is based on the interaction between a compact body and a movable opalescent hemispherical diffuser. The shell can be rotated to modify the direction and character of the light, allowing Telegono to provide both direct and reflected illumination. Magistretti exploited the possibilities offered by newly available plastic materials, using self-supporting melamine for the body and opalescent PMMA for the diffuser. The lamp was initially produced in white, black and red, with further color variations appearing during its production.
What makes this version especially rare is its integrated pencil holder—cleverly embedded into the base—originally designed as the desk edition of the Telegono lamp. It also retains its original Castiglioni inline switch and Bakelite E14 socket; only the plug has been replaced.
Telegono’s significance extended well beyond the Artemide catalogue. The lamp appeared in the IKEA catalogue in 1970–71 and was awarded a Silver Medal at the Wiener Möbelsalons International in Vienna in 1970. It is also documented in the Archive & Collection of the IKEA Museum in Älmhult, Sweden. These appearances reflect the international circulation of Magistretti’s work and the broader influence of Italian industrial design during the period.
This piece has been sold. For related Artemide designs, discover Vico Magistretti’s Eclisse table lamp and the sculptural Pallade pendant lamp, two distinctive examples that echo Telegono’s bold geometry and exploration of forms and materials.
