Links (external links open in a new window)
Carlo Forcolini – Artemide website
Artemide design in the MoMA – Museum of Modern Art NY
Vintageinfo
The Artemide Polifemo in the 1992 catalogue
Artemide Polifemo Floor Lamp
Materials: Black painted metal round base. Black painted metal rod. 2 folded black rods. Adjustable glass disc with an inner lens. Some metal and plastic parts. Mirror halogen reflector. Porcelain B15d socket.
Height: 215 cm / 84.64”
Width: 50 cm / 19.68”
Base: ∅ 30 cm / 11.81”
Electricity: 1 halogen light bulb, 1 x 250 watt maximum. 110/220 volt.
Period: 1980s.
Designer: Carlo Forcolini in 1983.
Manufacturer: Artemide, Pregnana Milanese, near Milan, Italy.
Other versions: This Artemide Polifemo floor lamp also exists in white.
Carlo Forcolini
Carlo Forcolini was born in Como, Italy in 1947. He studied at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan and graduated in 1969.
In 1970 he started to work as a designer and businessman. For a short while he worked with the Achille and Pier Castiglioni brothers company.
Forcolini worked as a product designer for companies and foundations such as Caimi, Cassina, De Padova, Futura, Gervasoni, Luceplan, Merotto Milani, Nemo, Pomellato, Valenti, Zumbtobel and of course Artemide. He was the co-founder and managing director of Alias, Amar Collezioni, Nemo and OY light.
Carlo Forcolini lived in London, UK from 1978 until 1984, where he set up Alias, United Kingdom. He also became director of Artemide in the UK.
From 2002 to 2008 he was the National President of ADI, the Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (Association for Industrial Design).
For Artemide he designed several lamps. Among others the Alessia, Dinarco, Icaro, Nestore, Nestore Lettura, Nemo, Nemo Lagoon, Olimpia, and his famous Fire Ball.
Artemide
The Artemide Group is based in Pregnana Milanese, Italy. Artemide was founded by Ernesto Gismondi and Sergio Mazza in 1960.
The company is best known for the Tizio desk lamp designed by Richard Sapper in 1972 and the Tolomeo desk lamp, designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1986.
Designers who have collaborated with the company include Mario Botta, Sir Norman Foster, Ettore Sottsass, Enzo Mari, Neil Poulton, Karim Rashid, Giò Ponti and many others.
Artemide Polifemo floor lamp – 1992 catalogue picture
Many thanks to Frank from nullviernull raum+kommunikation for the beautiful pictures and enthusiasm. You can find his shop over here on Ebay.