Artemide: The Artemide Group is based in Pregnana Milanese, Italy. The company is best known for the Tizio desk lamp designed by Richard Sapper in 1972. The company is also famous for the Tolomeo desk lamp, designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1986. Artemide produced many other beautiful lights en furniture during all those the years.
Designers who have collaborated with Artemide include Mario Botta, Sir Norman Foster, Ettore Sottsass, Enzo Mari, Neil Poulton, Karim Rashid, Giò Ponti and many others.
Artemide Eclisse table lamp – Sketch and technical drawing
Lamps in the movies!
An Artemide Eclisse table lamp was used as a prop in the French film Le Clan des Siciliens (The Sicilian Clan) from 1969. A gangster movie by Henri Verneuil featuring Alain Delon, Jean Gabin and Lino Ventura. Also a Nesso table lamp by Artemide and a Paul Secon nylon thread pendant lamp appear in this scene.
Two Artemide Eclisse table or wall lamps were used as a prop in the 1976 American British comedy film The Pink Panther Strikes Again. Starring Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom and Lesley-Anne Down.
An Artemide Eclisse table lamp was used as a prop in the French-Belgian drama film L’Etreinte (the embrace) from 1969. Starring: Nathalie Vernier, Daniel Vigo and Laetitia Sorel.
Two Artemide Eclisse table lamps were used as a prop in the 2021 Italian film Appunti Di Un Venditore Di Donne (Notes Of A Female Salesman). Starring Mario Sgueglia, Miriam Dalmazio and Libero De Rienzo. Many other Italian lamps appear in this movie. Hard to see, but the Eclisse lamps used were made after 2000. They have the black plastic ring inside.
Artemide Eclisse Table Lamp
Materials: Red painted aluminium globe on top of a half round base. White aluminium half globe inside, adjustable and used as diffuser. Ball-bearing inside the lamp. Black plastic bottom. Some iron parts. Bakelite E14 socket.
Height: 17,8 cm / 7”
Width: ∅ 11,4 cm / 4.48”
Electricity: 1 bulb E14, 1 x 25 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.
Period: 1960s, 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer: Vico Magistretti (1920 – 2006).
Manufacturer: Artemide, Pregnana Milanese, Milan, Italy.
Other versions: The Artemide Eclisse table lamp was made in many colours and it is still in production. Made in small varieties over the years. For instance, also sold with white painted smooth Bakelite socket in stead of this socket with a screw base.
The version made after 2000 is made different than the 1970s version (this one). In between the moving white part en the lamp itself is a black plastic part as you can see below. It is used as replacement for the ball-bearing inside.
Luckily Artemide decided in 2021 to make these lamps back as the original.
Several copies exists of the Eclisse, beware!
This lamp is designed in 1965 while travelling in the Milan metro, on the back of a ticket. Magistretti was inspired by the description of a lantern in the book Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.
The Eclisse went in production in 1966. You can find the Artemide Eclisse table lamp in the catalogue from 1973 here on Vintageinfo: Artemide catalogue 1973 page 1. It can also be used as a wall lamp, a recess is provided: Artemide catalogue 1973 page 3.
Vico Magistretti
Vico Magistretti was an Italian industrial designer, furniture designer, light designer and architect. He also designed another famous table lamp, the Oluce Atollo. You can find it here on Vintageinfo.
Vico Magistretti designed many lamps and items for Artemide. You can find them in the catalogues, here on Vintageinfo. The Dalù table lamp. The Eclisse table lamp. The Mezzachimera table lamp. To name a few. He also designed several lamps for FontanaArte. You can also find them in the catalogues section of Vintageinfo.
Vico Magistretti Foundation
Via Conservatorio, 20, 20122 Milano, Italy
Visit the studio museum and discover more about Vico Magistretti work as designer and architect. The museum is open on Tuesday, on Thursday and on Saturday. More info on their website: http://www.vicomagistretti.it/en/museum/practical
2000s version and 1970s together
The Mignon version on batteries
The Artemide Eclisse table or wall lamp in the 1977 book Het grote handboek voor “beter wonen”. (The big manual for “better living”) Compiled by Roland Göök and published by Uitgeverij Helmond (The Netherlands) and Uitgeverij Heideland-Orbis (Belgium). The original book is German: Schöner Wohnen – Das große praktische Einrichtungsbuch. Published by Mosaik Verlag GmbH, Munich, in 1976.
This book is easy to find in second hand shops, charity shops or even an antiquarian for a few euros. Many other lamps appear in it.
Links (external links open in a new window)
Interview with Vico Magistretti on the Designboom website
Article in The Guardian about Vico Magistretti
The Artemide Eclisse table lamp in the MoMA Museum New York
The Eclisse table lamp on the website of Artemide
Le Clan des Siciliens – The Sicilian Clan (1969) – Wikipedia
Le Clan des Siciliens – The Sicilian Clan (1969) – IMDb
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) – Wikipedia
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) – IMDb
Appunti Di Un Venditore Di Donne (2021) film – Wikipedia
Appunti Di Un Venditore Di Donne (2021) film – IMDb
Vintageinfo
1976 Artemide studioA Catalogue
1960s Eclipse Table Lamp – copy of the Eclisse
Other lamps in the Appunti Di Un Venditore Di Donne (2021) film