Nessino
Made by Artemide
Designed by Giancarlo Mattioli
Designed by Giancarlo Mattioli and Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova in the mid-1960s, the Nessino is the smaller companion to the landmark Nesso lamp. It carries the same formal logic in a more domestic register, proof that a reduction in scale need not mean a reduction in presence.
The mushroom-shaped dome is cast in injection-molded polycarbonate, a material that was itself a considered act in the 1960s, when plastics were redefining the possibilities of industrial form. The geometry does precise work: it channels light downward in a concentrated pool while allowing a softer, warmer glow to radiate outward from its base. Two distinct qualities of illumination emerge from a single, continuous gesture.
- Injection-molded polycarbonate construction
- Available in orange and white
- Emits direct downward and ambient diffused light
- Designed in Italy, 1960s
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Nessino
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Warranty
Luminaire is an authorized retailer of Artemide. The product comes with a full manufacturer warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Artemide Nessino lamp?
The Nessino was designed by Giancarlo Mattioli in collaboration with Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova in the 1960s. It was conceived as a smaller-scale companion to their Nesso floor lamp, which became one of the defining objects of Italian postwar modernism.
What is the Nessino made of?
The Nessino is made from injection-molded polycarbonate. At the time of its design in the 1960s, this was a forward-looking material choice that aligned with a broader Italian design movement exploring industrial plastics as a medium for sculptural, expressive form.
What kind of light does the Nessino emit?
The Nessino produces both direct downward illumination and a softer ambient diffusion around its base. This dual quality of light emerges from the geometry of the dome itself, without any additional optical components.
How does the Nessino differ from the original Nesso lamp?
The Nesso is a larger floor lamp, whereas the Nessino is scaled for use on a table or surface. Both share the same mushroom-form language and polycarbonate construction, but the Nessino translates the design's character into a more concentrated, object-like presence.
Is the Nessino still in production by Artemide?
Yes. Artemide has maintained the Nessino as part of its permanent collection for decades, a reflection of the lamp's enduring formal and cultural relevance within the history of Italian lighting design.
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