Paolo Rizzatto & Gino Sarfatti table lamp

This table lamp model 613 was designed by Paolo Rizzatto and Gino Sarfatti and produced by Arteluce in Italy in 1975. The lamp embodies a precise, industrial aesthetic characteristic of Italian modernist lighting design during the transitional period from mid-century to postmodernism.

The lamp’s structure features a counterbalanced, articulated arm system composed of twin lacquered tubular metal arms in a deep oxblood red. These contrast with the black-painted counterweight and base, creating a striking visual interplay. The hemispherical shade is made of white-painted plastic with a satin interior finish, designed to provide diffuse yet directed lighting. The dome has a slightly asymmetrical cut that enhances its functionalist, sculptural character. A black switch is located on the power cord for operation.

The lamp is in good condition, showing age-appropriate wear including surface marks and light patina on the lacquered and painted components. The white shade displays some discoloration and scuffing consistent with use over time.

Gino Sarfatti, a pivotal figure in 20th-century Italian lighting design, founded Arteluce in 1939 and designed over 400 lighting fixtures before selling the company to Flos in 1973. His design philosophy combined engineering precision with minimalist aesthetics. Paolo Rizzatto, born in 1941 and co-founder of Luceplan in 1978, collaborated with Sarfatti during his early career at Arteluce. This partnership represents a convergence of two generations of Italian lighting innovation.

Arteluce was renowned as a leading Italian lighting manufacturer in the mid-20th century, known for pioneering elegant, functional lighting solutions. The model 613, while less famous than some of Sarfatti’s earlier designs, exemplifies the evolution from rationalist elegance to a more technically expressive and modular approach in the 1970s.

The lamp measures 90 cm wide, 17.5 cm deep, and 60 cm high, approximately 35.4 inches wide, 6.9 inches deep, and 23.6 inches tall.