Artemide Lighting History:

Click here to view the Artemide lighting collection.

The history of Artemide:

During the 1950's: Artemide is founded by Ernesto Gismondi and Sergio Mazza in 1959. Ernesto Gismondi was an aeronautics engineer who designed missiles (unbelievable but true). Sergio Mazza was a young architect who specialized in interior design and furnishing accessories. It was an unlikely combination but it proved to be a very successful one. In 1959 Artemide released their first lamp, the Alfa lamp designed by Sergio Mazzer. The lamp is an incredible success and Artemide quickly become one of the leading Italian design brands.

During the 1960's: In 1965, Artemide receives their first award. The Nesso lamp receives the first prize at the Studio Artemide / Domus Modern Design Competition in Milan. In 1967, Artemide receives another award: the Compasso d’Oro Award for the Eclisse Lamp designed by Vico Magistretti. It is during this period that Artemide quickly expands their production to modern furniture and household items. Some of these Artemide modern design classics include the Dedalo umbrella stand designed by Emma Gismondi Schweinberger, the Selene side chairs-, Gaudi- and Vicario armchairs designed by Vico Magistretti, the Mida chair and sofa designed by Sergio Mazza, the Bacco bar table designed by Sergio Mazza, the Efebino stool designed by Stacy Dukes and the Toga chair designed by Sergio Mazza. Artemide does not produce any of these items any longer (unfortunately) but you may get lucky at a European flea market or even more likely, at an auction house.

During the 1970's: Artemide releases the Tizio desk lamp. Richard Sapper designs the lamp with a halogen light source, Tizio, which through the the years becomes a symbol of design throughout the world. In 1976, Enzo Mari and Giancarlo Fassina design the Aggregato pendant lamp.

During the 1980's: Artemide releases the Tolomeo lamp which becomes one of the best selling lamps in the world. Thanks to the collaboration between Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina, the Tolomeo is born. It becomes an icon which can be found in hundreds of thousands of homes and offices, world wide. The Tolomeo receives the Compasso d’Oro Award in 1989. It is during this decade that Artemide expands its operations with its first distribution branch in the USA.

During the 1990's: Artemide expands its product line to architectural lighting solutions. Artemide wins the "Leone di Bronzo" Award at the International advertising festival of Cannes Several pieces of Artemide are awarded with a permanent place in the modern design collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Several Artemide lamps become collectors pieces including the Nesso table lamp designed by Giancarlo Mattioli, the Eclisse lamp by Vico Magistretti, the Mezzachimera lamp designed by Vico Magistretti, the Tizio lighting series designed by Richard Sapper, the Fato wall sconces designed by Gio Ponti, the Boalum lamp with internally lit plastic tubing designed by Livio Castiglioni Gianfranco Frattini, the wonderful Lavinia table lamp with its organic shape designed by Japanese architect Masayuki Kurakawa, the Space Age Pileo-Mezzo Pileo table- and floor lamps designed by Gae Aulenti, the Dania table lamp designed by Dario Tognan, the Giunone floor lamp designed by Vico Magistretti, the Saffo table lamp by Angelo Mangiarotti. The Tizio desk lamp by Richard Sapper and the Tolomeo desk lamps designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina continue to be the best selling Artemide products.

From 2000: Artemide actively promotes workshops with design schools (for example the Royal college of Art in London) in order to find the brightest young talents. The Artemide lighting collection is considered to be timeless design. Many of the Artemide lamps are now featured at Musuem collections including the MoMA in New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnica in Milan, the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna in Rome, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, etc. In 2008, Artemide's Mercury lamp designed by Ross Lovegrove wins the Red Dot Design Award for "best of the best" product.

The brilliant Artemide lighting collection showcases some significan examples of modern lighting that rightfully belong to the history of modern design: forms, lighting techniques, original design concepts invented by Artemide, readily acclaimed and adopted by consumers and museum collections all over the world. Artemide is known for numerous modern design lighting classics: the Tizio lamp by Richard Sapper which brought cantilevered elegance to halogen lighting, the Tolomeo lamp series by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina which crosses severe industrial style with jaunty chic. Other modern lighting icons by Artemide include the Logico serries by Michelle de Lucchi, the Melampo table- and floor lamp by Adrien Gardere, the Castore lamp serries by Michelle de Lucchi & Hubb Ubbens and the Choose modern floor lamp by Matteo Thun.

The Artemide modern lighting collection from Italy is exceptional in every way. The extensive collection of Artemide encompasses a wide variety of styles which can be used for numerous applications including architectural, residential and commercial. The Artemide lighting collection includes contemporary glass chandeliers, modern wall sconces, designer lighting fixtures for ceiling and wall, desk and table lamps and stylish floor lamps. Throughout its history, Artemide has attracted the best names in the design industry including Michele De Lucchi, Livio Castiglioni, Gianfranco Frattini, Vico Magistretti, Richard Sapper, Ron Rezek and Giancarlo Fassina. Artemide’s lighting products are much more than highly refined design objects, ensuring a top technical performance – they are objects born from man’s experience to satisfy man’s needs.