Arguably the most influential group of Italian Radical design, Archizoom was founded in Florence around 1964 by Andrea Branzi, Massimo Morozzi, Gilberto Corretti, and Paolo Deganello (in 1968 Dario and Lucia Bartolini also became involved). In 1968, Poltronova founder Sergio Cammilli suggested to the group the use of industrial aluminum cans, destined to be food containers, as a design material. Thus “Tizio, Caio, Sempronio” came about (these names are standard placeholders in Italy for unidentified people, like “Tom, Dick, and Harry”). The lamp, ashtray, and vase were decorated to imitate precious stones, which served as a critical commentary on modernism—which rejected surface decoration and altered materials, and consumerism—which promoted the uncontrolled desire for luxury.
Table lamp in steel and anodized aluminum with abstract patterning, from the "Tizio, Caio, Sempronio" series. The lamp is part of a matching set with a flower vase and an ashtray.
Designed by Archizoom Associati, produced by Poltronova, Italy, 1968.
