Milanese designer and architect Achille Castiglioni sought to inject personality into all of his work, and found deep inspiration in everyday objects. A legend of Italian mid-century modernism, he created iconic, universally loved table lamps, chairs and other lighting and furniture with his likeminded brothers during the postwar years.
There was the Snoopy lamp, which brings to mind the unmistakable Peanuts character, while the shape of a common street lamp inspired the design behind the Arco floor lamp. Elsewhere, the Toio floor lamp — a provocative fixture in any living room — was made with automotive parts as well as run-of-the-mill recreational gear.
Castiglioni studied the classics at Liceo Classico Giuseppe Parini, art at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and finally architecture and design at the Polytechnic University of Milan. After graduating in 1944, Castiglioni began working with his brothers Pier Giacomo and Livio at the studio they cofounded with classmate Luigi Caccia Dominioni.
Livio left to pursue lighting design and sound technology, leaving Achille and Pier Giacomo to continue to collaborate on various projects. One such design was the iconic Taraxacum hanging lamp for FLOS which featured a resin “cocoon” created with sprayed plastic polymers that protects its steel core and allows for the diffusion of light.
Castiglioni won Italy’s highest award for industrial design — the Compasso d’Oro — seven times, and the Museum of Modern Art was home to his first individual retrospective in the United States. Castiglioni later taught at the Polytechnic University of Turin and at Polytechnic in Milan.
Castiglioni’s designs remain timeless. Some of them can be found in Tokyo’s Living Design Center Ozone, the Triennale di Milano and the Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center.
Find vintage Achille Castiglioni lighting, seating, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Arco model lamp, A&PG Castiglioni for Flos 1962
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Famous Arco floor lamp designed by Castiglioni in 62' for Flos. Carrara marble base with chamfered corners, satin-finished steel telescopic stem, and swiveling reflector made of pres...
Marble, Aluminum, Steel
Arco Floor Lamp c. 1962
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos, Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Napa, CA
Design Achille & Pierre Giacomo Castiglioni, 1962 Aluminum, Marble, Stainless steel Made in Italy by Flos The Flos Arco Floor Lamp, designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni...
Marble, Aluminum
Vintage 1970s Italian "Arco-style" Floor Lamp
By Flos, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant and striking mid-century modern "Arco style" arc floor lamp produced in Italy during the 1970s. This piece heavily channels the legendary Castiglioni brothers' aesthetic b...
Marble, Metal
$3,779
H 94.49 in W 78.75 in D 11.82 in
Early Arco lamp designed by Pier Giacomo & Achille Castiglioni for Flos, 1962
By Achille Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Arco Floor lamp designed by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos in 1962 manufactured by Flos, Italy ca. 1970, purchased by its prior owners in 1972. With early makers be...
Marble, Steel
Arco Italian Floor Lamp Inspired the Iconic "Arco"
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1970 s flor lamp inspired by Design Achille & Pierre Giacomo Castiglioni, 1962 .iconic "Arco", a suspension lamp that sits on the floor on an extremely heavy marble and metal-aluminu...
Marble, Chrome
Arco floor lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos 1980
By Flos, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Brussels, BE
No more words about this iconic, outstanding minimalism design and timeless masterpiece by Achille Castiglioni for Flos. This model is a reedition from the 1980's with the original...
Carrara Marble, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Arco Floor Lamp by Harvey Guzzini
By Lightolier, Harvey Guzzini, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Chicago, IL
Arc floor lamp designed by Harvey Guzzini. Carrara Marble Base. Very nice clean vintage condition overall. one mild dent on aluminum shade rim (as shown - should push out). some lig...
Marble
$4,008
H 92.13 in W 84.26 in D 12.21 in
Italian modern marble floor lamp Arco by Castiglioni for Flos, 1960s
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern floor lamp Arco by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos, 1960s Floor lamp model Arco with a height-adjustable and adjustable aluminum dome shade. The arched s...
Marble, Metal, Aluminum, Steel
$4,150 / item
H 91.33 in W 86.61 in D 11.5 in
Castiglioni Arco Modern Arch Stainless Steel & Marble Floor Lamp, FLOS, in stock
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FLOS Arco LED Floor Lamp by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni This lamp is ready for its close-up: Featured in Hollywood classics including diamonds ar...
Marble, Aluminum, Stainless Steel
$3,000
H 94.5 in W 86.6 in D 12.6 in
Vintage Pier Giacomo Achille Castiglioni - Flos 'Arco' Marble & Steel Floor Lamp
By Achille Castiglioni, Flos, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The Carrera marble base has very slight, barely noticeable yellowing. Telescoping arm shows signs of light oxidation, but operates well. The polished and coated/sealed aluminum shade shows light scuffs and scratches. Wiring is original. Lamp works as it should. In very good shape for being ~70 years old. This lamp is not signed. I'm guessing the manufacturer's sticker label dried out and fell off. Typically, the labels were adhered to the ceramic bulb socket, which would heat up and dry out the glue. Also notice the small hole perforated diffuser, on which the polished aluminum shade rests and pivots, is unusual. Many lamps have the larger holes found on the more recently made examples. The small holes diffuser is found on the vintage Flos Arco...
Carrara Marble, Steel
1960, Very Early Joe Colombo Topo Floor Lamp Designed for Stilnovo
By Joe Colombo
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This lamp is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...
Metal
High Monumental Adjustable 1950s or 1960s Floor Lamp, in Angelo Leli Style
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...
Marble, Metal, Copper
1972, Aldo van den Nieuwelaar, Early White TC2 Floor Lamp for Artimeta
By Artimeta, Aldo van den Nieuwelaar
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beac...
Metal
1935, W.H. Gispen Lamp 6004 or 640b in Good Condition
By Willem H. Gispen
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...
Metal
1974, Aldo Van Den Nieuwelaar, for ABN, Table Lamp with White Shade
By Aldo van den Nieuwelaar
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...
Plastic
1935, W.H. Gispen Lamp 6004 or 640b in Fair Condition
By Gispen
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This lamp is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...
Metal
