Oscar Torlasco Table Lamp 577

Materials: Black painted brass square conical base, painted with wrinkle paint. Built-in transformer. Brass rod. Brass tubular conical lampshade, partially painted black. Glass optic lens. Chrome small rod with a round black decorative handle on top. Some metal parts. Bakelite E14 socket.

Height: 50 cm / 19.68”

Width: 29 cm / 11.41”

Base: ∅ 10 cm / 3.93”

Electricity: 1 bulb E14, 1 x 40 watt maximum, 12 volt. 125/160/220 volt adjustable transformer built-in. Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

Period: 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Oscar Torlasco (1934-2004) in 1960.

Manufacturer: Lumi Cripa S.R.L., Via Imperia 20 and Piazza Missori 2,  Milan, Italy.

Other versions: The Oscar Torlasco table lamp 577 was made in two sizes. Model 577 is 30 cm / 11.81” high, model 577 G is 50 cm / 19.68 high. Made in a few colours. The Lumi company is still producing it today.

Over the years small variations were made. Different mechanisms to change the voltage of the lamp. Slight changes in used parts. Slight changes in height. Many table lamps are 51,5 cm / 20.27” high.

All these table lamps were designed in the late 1950s, early 1960s. Some of them were produced for many years. Model 577 was designed in 1960.

In the book 1000 Lights: 1879 – 1959, by Charlotte & Peter Fiell and printed in 2005, it is said that this table lamp is a design by Giò Ponti from 1955 (page 523). But those are false assumptions. According to the Lumi company it is a lamp designed by Oscar Torlasco in 1960.

Oscar Torlasco

Born in Rome, Italy in 1934, Oscar Torlasco designed many beautiful lamps. The most well known are the lamps he designed for the Lumi company. Torlasco designed for several Italian lighting manufacturers including Esperia, Stilux, Lamperti and Stilkronen.

Most of his designs are from the 1950s and 60s. For many lamps, he uses optic lenses for spreading/diffusing the light. It is his trademark. In 1959 Torlasco received the Italian design award, the “Compasso d’Oro” (Golden Compass) for his Genova 4053 street lighting. The lamps were in production by Fabbrica Apparecchi Illuminazione Greco S.p.A. Oscar Torlasco passed away in 2004.

Lumi

In 1944 Carlo Antonio Crippa created his “workshop” Lumi (lights). Cripa surrounded himself with the most prominent designers. Among others Guglielmo Berchicci, Anselmo De Sanctis, Pia Guidetti (Cripa). Maurizio Favetta, Ugo la Pietra, Giò Ponti, Prospero Rasulo. Alessandro Scilipoti, Matteo Thun.Gianni Veneziano and Luciana Di Virgilio  (Veneziano & Team), Mario Vallini, Nanda Vigo and of course Oscar Torlasco. The Lumi company always uses high-quality materials.

Today the company is still a workshop where materials are shaped according to the artist’s imagination. All crafting by hand, even by using modern technology. For many crystal lamps and chandeliers, Lumi produces today, Swarovski is involved. The company is since the beginning in family hands and the third generation is now at the helm. Lumi is part of the Falb group.