The Wit and Humour of the Gibigiana Table Lamp

Gibigiana Table Lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni

In 1981, Italian designer Achille Castiglioni created the Gibigiana Lamp. It was manufactured by Flos and it was made of enamelled steel and plastic.

Shape of Animal or Bird

Castiglioni’s approach to design is characterised by wit and humour, which is portrayed here by a shape that resembles an animal or bird. The Gibigiana is a table light that may be adjusted. It includes a dimmer and produces reflected light. The lamp also successfully applies the halogen bulb’s relatively new technique of reflecting light against a mirror and concentrating it on a specific location — a function emphasised in the lamp’s peculiar name, which is the Italian word for light reflected from a surface.

A round dial on the lamp’s “head” controls the angle of reflection, while a lever that runs up and down the base controls the strength of the light. The Gibigiana aimed to blend a unique look with a high-end, high-quality finish that isn’t usually associated with this type of household product.

Sources

“Gibigiana” Table Lamp; Designed by Achille Castiglioni (Italian, 1918–2002); Italy; enamelled steel, plastic; 52 x 11 cm (20 1/2 x 4 5/16 in.); 1989-78-1

McDermott, C. (1997). 20th-century Design. Carlton.

More on Lamps

Flos Italian Lighting Manufacturer

Dino Gavina established the lighting firm Flos in 1962 to complement his furniture manufacturing at Gavina. In Merano, at first, it moved to the Brescia area. Maria Sinoncini and Cesare Cassina were directors, followed by Sergio Gandini. Read More →
Shark 3D Illusion Lamp

The 3D visual creative lamp is an innovative artistic atmosphere light, optical acrylic light guide plate engraving a variety of 2D graphics, 3D visual impact. Unique lighting effects amazing optical visual illusion home decor lamp, It makes your room more interesting,Ideal as a bedside lamp and decor in a kid’s bedroom.Read More →
Ashoka Table Lamp – Less is a Bore

For the introductory 1981 MEMPHIS set, the Ashoka table lamp is an early Ettore Sottsass lighting masterwork as iconoclastic a light/sculpture as you can find anywhere!!Read More →
Noguchi lamp space without clutter

Isamu Noguchi designed the first of his lamps to be produced by traditional construction methods in Gifu, Japan, known for its manufacture of lanterns and parasols made from mulberry bark paper and bamboo. Akari is handcrafted with washi paper from the inside bark of the mulberry tree and bamboo ribbing stretched across sculptural moulded wood…
Adolf Loos (1870 – 1933) – Moravian Architect and Designer

Between 1893-96, he travelled to America and worked as a mason and floor layer. He saw the work of the Chicago School, including William Le Baron Jenny, Burnham and Root, and Louis Sullivan. He settled in Vienna in 1896 and began to write and work as a designer and architect, turning away from the Vienna…
The timeless design of the chrome table lamp by Donald Deskey

The table lamp has a chrome-plated spine and lampshade, a painted-black wooden base, and an electric cord protruding from the centre.Read More →
Arteluce Italian Lighting Firm (1939)

Arteluce Italian Lighting Firm it was one of the modest businesses that contributed to Italian design’s international success in the 1950s. READ MORERead More →
Carl J. Jucker (1902 – 1997) Swiss metalworker

Carl J.Jucker was a metal worker from Switzerland. He studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule, Zürich, from 1918-1922. He studied under Muche between 1922 and 1923. He studied at Bauhaus with Christian Dell, Paul Klee and László Moholy-Nagy.Read More →
Artemide Italian Lighting Company

Artemide Italian Lighting Company – Artemide is an Italian lighting and furniture manufacturer it is in located Pregnana Milanese. Read More →
IKEA and Sabine Marcelis luminous lamps for the VARMBLIXT collection

Together, IKEA and Rotterdam based designer Sabine Marcelis want to embrace the potential of light at home and its positive impact on wellbeing. Two luminous lamps are the first products revealed for a collection called VARMBLIXT launching in Australia in early 2023.Read More →
Rodolfo Dordoni (b.1954) Italian Architect and Designer

he was artistic director of Cappellini International Interiors and in charge of corporate image and communications; from 1982, he was consultant designer for several firms on pavilions, shops, and exhibition stands.Read More →
Pierluigi Cerri (b.1939) Italian Architect/Graphic/Exhibition Designer

He was active as an exhibition designer, designed 1978 ‘Peter Behrens und die AEG’ exhibition, Berlin; 1978 ‘Carrozzeria Italiana’ exhibition, Turin and Rome; 1981 ‘Identité Italienne,’ Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; 1983 ‘Alexander Calder’ exhibition, Turin; 1984 ‘Italian Design,’ Stuttgart and Tokyo; 1984 ‘Venti Progetti per il futuro del Lingotto,’ Turin; 1986 ‘Futurismo e Futurismi,’ Venice.…
Andreas Hansen (b.1936) Danish Furniture Designer

He studied at the Kunsthåndvaerkerskolen, Copenhagen, to 1962 and Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademiets Møbelskole, Copenhagen to 1963.Read More →
Gunilla Jung (d. 1939) Finnish silversmith and lighting designer

Gunilla Jung was a glass and lighting artist and Silversmith. She designed glassware for Karhula (later Iittala) in the 1930s at the Institute of Applied Arts in Helsinki. Maybe best known for her pioneering lighting projects, such as in Helsinki’s Savoy Theatre. Taito created her first silver designs and, later in the 1930s, others by…
Perry King (b. 1938 ) British industrial, graphic and product designer

He worked at Olivetti, where he designed office machinery, starting in 1956. He collaborated with Hans Von Klier on C. Castelli’s corporate design program. He was designing dictating machines for Süd-Atlas Werke in Monaco and electronic apparatus and control systems for Praxis in Milan.Read More →
The Wit and Humour of the Gibigiana Table Lamp

Castiglioni’s approach to design is characterised by wit and humour, which is portrayed here by a shape that resembles an animal or bird. The Gibigiana is a table light that may be adjusted. It includes a dimmer and produces reflected light. Read More →
Beautifully Balanced Más Table Lamps – Korean Design

Studio Más, known for designing products and furniture that are simple yet unique, released their Lamp Más in 2018. Created especially for the 2018 Young Retro Seoul Design Festival, Lamp Más was inspired by analogical behaviour and retro-like colour and shape and designed to have a beautiful balance between the pull switch and the lamp…
Triana floor standing lamp from metalarte

Triana is a floor lamp from yesteryear. One metre tall, elegant and stately. With a sculptural body and chintz lampshade. SEE MORERead More →
Globe Electric – Heavy Base Architect Desk Lamp

CLASSIC DESIGN: with clean, simple lines this classic lamp will beautifully illuminate any desk or nightstandRead More →
Folding Desk Lamp with USB charging port

D4A is a foldable LED desk lamp from ONKRON. This model features a one-of-a-kind design that allows it to be small and portable and adjusted into three different positions: a traditional desk lamp, a desk lamp with a cellphone holder, and even a wall-mounted lamp! Read More →