Giancarlo Fassina and the Tolomeo: Which Size Goes Where

Designer Giancarlo Fassina, co-designer of the Tolomeo

Giancarlo Fassina, a longtime Artemide collaborator, designed the Tolomeo with Michele De Lucchi in 1987. Because the family comes in so many sizes and mounts, it is the lamp we reach for most often when a project needs adjustable task light.

“Micro by the bed, Classic on the desk, Reading next to the chair.”

Our rule of thumb

Pick the size by the job

Walls, ceilings and outdoors

Use the wall versions or the Tolomeo Clip where there is no surface for a base, the Tolomeo Off Center pendant when the table sits away from the ceiling point, and the Tolomeo Outdoor Lantern or Tolomeo XXL on covered terraces.

Why it holds its value

It won the Compasso d’Oro in 1989, it has stayed in production for decades, and it even sits on M’s desk in Skyfall (2012), which is why we treat it as a long-term buy rather than a trend piece.

Credentials
  • Tolomeo: Compasso d’Oro, 1989
  • On screen: a Tolomeo sits on M’s desk at MI6 in Skyfall (2012)

Our Giancarlo Fassina picks

15 pieces sorted by where they go, all available to order now

Living rooms and bedrooms9 picks

Artemide Tolomeo Classic Table Lamp in a room settingTable LampsArtemide Tolomeo Classic Table LampFrom $340View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Micro Table Lamp in a room settingTable LampsArtemide Tolomeo Micro Table LampFrom $368View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Mini Table Lamp in a room settingTable LampsArtemide Tolomeo Mini Table LampFrom $336View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Midi Table Lamp in a room settingTable LampsArtemide Tolomeo Midi Table LampFrom $412View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Floor Lamp in a room settingFloor LampsArtemide Tolomeo Floor LampFrom $632View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Mega Floor Lamp in a room settingFloor LampsArtemide Tolomeo Mega Floor LampFrom $1,272View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Reading Floor Lamp in a room settingFloor LampsArtemide Tolomeo Reading Floor LampFrom $580View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Maxi Floor Lamp in a room settingFloor LampsArtemide Tolomeo Maxi Floor LampFrom $2,768View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Mega Table Lamp in a room settingTable LampsArtemide Tolomeo Mega Table LampFrom $800View details

Entries, halls and corridors4 picks

Artemide Tolomeo Wall Spot Light in a room settingWall LightArtemide Tolomeo Wall Spot LightFrom $236View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Clip Spot Light in a room settingCeiling LightArtemide Tolomeo Clip Spot LightFrom $244View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Classic Wall Light in a room settingWall LightArtemide Tolomeo Classic Wall LightFrom $348View detailsArtemide Tolomeo Micro Wall Light in a room settingWall LightArtemide Tolomeo Micro Wall LightFrom $400View details

Dining rooms and kitchen islands1 pick

Artemide Tolomeo Outdoor Lantern Pendant Light in a room settingPendant LightArtemide Tolomeo Outdoor Lantern Pendant LightFrom $688View details

Exteriors and patios1 pick

Artemide Tolomeo Mega Outdoor Floor Light in a room settingOutdoor LightingArtemide Tolomeo Mega Outdoor Floor LightFrom $2,124View details

Guides that use the Tolomeo

Sources: MetropolitanDecor product listings for the Artemide Tolomeo.