‘There are always different ways to reach the goal. But I’ve never been interested in the shape, except for the shape of the bulb lamp from which I have to create a termination, a support’
– Gino Sarfatti

Gino Sarfatti’s ‘1063’ floor lamp is widely regarded as one of the most iconic pieces in the Italian designer’s body of work. The lamp stands tall, towering above eye level, and is made up of a lacquered aluminum tube and a fluorescent bulb. It is positioned vertically on the floor, kept in balance by a ballast that holds the neon transformer.

Sarfatti designed the ‘1063’ floor lamp in 1954, showcasing his radical approach, as well as dedication to simplicity and functionality. By stripping the lamp down to its most essential components, Sarfatti created a minimalist design that even precedes Dan Flavin’s pioneering use of fluorescent light in the early 1960s. Sarfatti’s ‘1063’ floor lamp is a testament to his vision of light as a medium in its own right, and an important precursor to the Minimalist movement of the 1960s and beyond.

Gino Sarfatti (1912–1985): Pioneer of Italian Lighting Design
Gino Sarfatti founded the lighting production company Arteluce in 1939 and quickly became an international reference in the Modern Design movement. He won numerous awards and prizes, the most prestigious of which were the Compasso d’Oro in 1954 and 1955, and the Honorary Diploma of the Triennale of Milan. He leaves behind a resolutely modern and contemporary legacy, from which his successors were largely inspired.