Achille Castiglioni VLM switches scetch
Achille Castiglioni in his studio sitting under an Arco arc floor lamp on a Sanluca chair next to a Rochcetto table. The Arco arc floor lamp is awarded with the ADI Product Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. It was designed by Achille and his brother Pier.
Achille Castiglioni VLM Switches
Materials: Bakelite. Since the 2000s the 450 switches are made in plastic. Brass parts, sometimes chromed brass parts inside – conductive electrical parts.
Electricity: 110/220 volt.
Period: 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer: Achille Castiglioni (16 February 1918 – 2 December 2002) designed this collection of switches in 1968. Some of these switches are still in production and for sale via the internet (today also via the Relco website) or in retail shops around the world.
Manufacturer: VLM Components Buccinasco, Italy.
VLM Components was founded in 1945 in Buccinasco, a small village near Milan, Italy. VLM Components is part of the Relco Group, founded in 1967. Today they own the brands Relco, Leuci, Relco Lighting, VLM and Segno.
Text from the former VLM-website:
His pride and joy was a light switch.
You can’t say Achille Castiglioni wasn’t prolific: the architect and industrial designer worked on 290 industrial design projects, 480 exhibitions and 191 architectural projects throughout his career.
Today, countless companies including Flos, Zanotta and VLM are still producing his designs. If you ask his daughter Giovanna which object he prized the most, the answer you will get is: the VLM switch.
He used to say: “Can you believe it? I’m in everyone’s house!“
Links (external links open in a new window)
Achille Castiglioni – Wikipedia
Achille Castiglioni in the Moma Museum in New York
VLM Components switches model 450 – Relco Group shop
VLM Components switches model D-661 – Relco Group shop
Vintageinfo
Achille Castiglioni VLM Switches 450 and 475 – White Bakelite
VLM Switch D-661 Black – Bakelite and plastic bottom
VLM Switch D-662 – Bakelite and plastic bottom
VLM Switch D-662 used for the Ettore floor lamp Ernesto Gismondi designed for Artemide. You can find this floor lamp on the Artemide catalogue, here on Vintageinfo.
