Studio A.R.D.I.T.I. for Nucleo Sormani Pair of ‘Prismar’ Table Lamps in Mirrored Glass

Studio A.R.D.I.T.I for Nucleo Sormani, pair of ‘Prismar’ table lamps, semi-transparent mirrored glass, lacquered steel, chromed metal, Italy, 1972

Designed in 1972 by the Florentine collective Studio A.R.D.I.T.I. for the progressive Italian manufacturer Nucleo Sormani, the Prismar table lamp stands as a significant example of Radical Italian lighting design of the early 1970s. When illuminated, the translucent mirrored surfaces generate a complex infinity effect in which the exposed bulb appears multiplied endlessly within the volume of the cube – hence the name “Prismar”.

The family-owned company Sormani was established in 1961 in the northern Italian town of Arosio. At the end of the sixties, the firm distinguished itself by its avant-garde furniture and furnishings in plastics. Richard Neagle was among the first using vacuum-formed plastic for the creation of his Nike furniture line in 1968. The Nucleo Division was particularly focused on lighting experimenting with different forms and materials, which resulted in sculptural and artistic appearances.