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An Obscure Industrial Design Classic: Angelo Lelii's Polifemo Floor Lamp

Inspired by a cyclops

By Rain Noe - December 12

in Lighting

Midcentury Italian lighting designer Angelo Lelii created this Polifemo lamp in 1956.

The unusual design features a stem interrupted by a sort of brass eyeball with a plastic diffuser. The eyeball illuminates and can be pivoted.

The design is inspired by, and named for Polyphemus, the cyclops from Homer's Odyssey. (The shape of the top of the lamp is meant to reference a wine goblet; in the story, Ulysses got Polyphemus smashed on wine in order to escape from his lair.)

The lamp was put into production by Lelii's company, Arredoluce, from the mid-'50s until at least the '60s. Today you can find them on vintage sites, but they're rare, sought-after and pricey.

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An Obscure Industrial Design Classic: Angelo Lelii's Polifemo Floor Lamp

Inspired by a cyclops

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