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The Castiglioni Brothers' Iconic Taccia Dressed in White

The historic Flos table lamp now available in an all-white 2023 Special Edition

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11/07/2023 - A design icon since 1962, the Flos Taccia lamp is now available in a special edition  - Taccia Matte White. From modern LED technology to non-deformable plastic, the gradual evolution of the historic table lamp designed by the Castiglioni brothers culminates in an all-white version that enhances the sculptural qualities of its distinctive forms. 
Taccia lamp by Flos - Matte White version 2Pin it

Taccia lamp by Flos - Matte White version

Designed with the idea of turning a ceiling lamp upside down, Taccia is recognised worldwide as a Made in Italy design icon. A cup-shaped blown glass diffuser and a base reminiscent of ancient Greek columns make up the "Mercedes of lamps", as Achille Castiglioni described it in a 1970 interview. 
 
"A symbol of success," the designer continued, "perhaps because its base resembles a column. We certainly had no prestige in mind when we designed it, we just wanted to create a cooling surface that would dissipate heat".

Therefore, the Flos Taccia lamp characteristic base is not inspired by classical art but rather designed to resemble a radiator, emphasizing the function of dissipating heat generated by the light source. 

The evolution of Flos Taccia lamp

In 2010, the incandescent version was joined by a remote phosphor LED model. This solution eliminated possible overheating problems that could occur with the type of light source used until then, guaranteeing energy savings and a long service life. In addition, the LED lighting provided a perfectly homogeneous and natural lighting effect with faithful colour reproduction.
Castiglioni brothers with Taccia lamp by Flos - Ph. credits: Flos 3Pin it

Castiglioni brothers with Taccia lamp by Flos - Ph. credits: Flos

Six years later, the Flos Taccia lamp was reissued in a version with a clear plastic cup diffuser, in keeping with the designers' original idea. In fact, the Achille Castiglioni Foundation archives reveal that the two brothers wanted to make the reflector out of plastic instead of glass, but had to abandon the idea because the heat emitted by the bulb deformed the material. 

The solution for the new century was to create a heat-resistant PMMA diffuser for the light sources, which had now switched to low-emission LED technologies. State-of-the-art injection moulding techniques helped achieve a perfect bell shape while maintaining surface uniformity inside and out. High-precision laser cutting techniques make the diffuser's injection points invisible. The transparency and brilliance of the methacrylate resist UV exposure over time.

In 2016, Taccia Small completed the family with a reduced size and new colour options, while maintaining the design of the original model.

Taccia lamp by Flos - Historical Photo, 1962 - Ph credits Flos 4Pin it

Taccia lamp by Flos - Historical Photo, 1962 - Ph credits Flos

The story of Flos Taccia lamp continues today thanks to the collaboration with the Achille Castiglioni Foundation.

With the exception of the cup-shaped diffuser, which remains in transparent blown glass, the Matte White finish of the 2023 special edition covers all the components of Taccia, from the plastic shapes of the base to the extruded aluminium body and the painted metal reflector, enhancing the design's purity.

Flos on Archiproducts

Taccia Matte White  - Ph. Consiglio Manni 5Pin it

Taccia Matte White - Ph. Consiglio Manni

Taccia lamp by Flos - Matte White version - Ph. Consiglio Manni 6Pin it

Taccia lamp by Flos - Matte White version - Ph. Consiglio Manni

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