A Desk Lamp, Model No. 253designed circa 1960, manufactured by Oluce, Milan

Description
Violet-tinted and white Perspex diffusers, polished brass stem, and grey-lacquered cast-iron base.
45 cm (17¾ in.) high; 38 cm (15 in.) diameter

A fine, early example of Agnoli’s sculptural approach to functional lighting, retaining its original finish and hardware.

Literature
G. Gramigna, Repertorio 1950–1980, Milan, 1985 (p. 81, for model).
E. Fiamma, Oluce: 70 Years of Italian Lighting Design, Milan, 2015.
Domus, various issues, 1960–62 (advertising illustrations).

Gallery NoteTito Agnoli’s Model 253 represents a moment of disciplined experimentation within post-war Italian design. Conceived for Oluce, the lamp’s restrained geometry and subtle modulation of light illustrate Agnoli’s architectural sensibility. The contrast between the weighted cast-iron base and ethereal Perspex diffusers reflects his ability to balance material and proportion with poetic precision. A quietly radical design, the 253 remains one of the most elegant articulations of Italian modernism in the 1960s.