Pair small cocoon Gatto Table Lamps Achille & Pier Castiglioni Flos Italy 1960
Pair of small cocoon Table Lamps, model Gatto Piccolo. Design by Achille & Pier Castiglioni for Flos, Italy in 1960. Made in the 1960s or 1970s. Both are signed. A great example of mid-century modern lighting design.
A thin steel framework covered with sprayed resin gives a Fiberglass look. The translucent resin gives a beautiful soft light effect. The base is made of solid wood.
Achille Castiglioni and his brothers Livio and Pier Giacomo were renowned for their lighting design. Their most well-known design is the Arco floor lamp. They used the cocoon technique for their table lamps and pendants which have all become design classics.
The ‘cocoon’ technology has been developed by the german Friedel Wauer, who discovered a mechanical way to cover a steel mesh by imitating the "self-coiling" of the silkworm. Many designers as George Nelson and Tobia Scarpa were fascinated by the light effect and the properties of the cocooning material.
The table lamps come with a light socket for E14 bulbs. Work with 110v and 220v. Original wiring and EU-plug. On request, these lamps can be rewired and equipped with a US-plug (free of charge).
Nice vintage state, one has some darker spots/marks and one small hole on the back (about 1/2 inch / 1,2cm), see last photograph.
Height 30 cm / Diameter 20 cm
