Humanscale Lands U.S. Distribution Rights for LED Version of Iconic Tolomeo Lamp

The LED version features the same classically modern design as the original Tolomeo, designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1987, while offering light output and energy efficiency vastly superior to its predecessors.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 11/18/2009 12:00:00 AM

American fans of iconic Italian lighting will surely be saying grazie to Humanscale now that the workplace furnishings manufacturer has landed exclusive U.S. distribution rights to the LED version of Artemide's seminal Tolomeo task light.

Originally designed for the Milan-based lighting manufacturer by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1987, the Tolomeo stands as a preeminent symbol of modern Italian design and is a go-to favorite of interior designers and architects worldwide.

The LED version Humanscale will be offering to the U.S. contract market will retain the original lamp's signature design while offering light output and energy efficiency vastly superior to its predecessors. It will be available in two sizes—Classic and Mini—both of which will consume just 10 watts of power while producing as much light as 75 watts of standard incandescent lights. The Mini is 20 percent smaller than the Classic version and will stand 40 inches tall when fully extended and provide a 38-inch reach compared with the Classic's 50-inch height and 48-inch reach. Both will be available in three finish options—white, black, and polished aluminum—and feature power switches on the base of the shade.

The LED Tolomeo is set to join the Element light in Humanscale's stable of ultra-efficient LED lamps. Introduced last July and designed by the company's design director, Mark McKenna, Element consumes a scant seven watts of power while producing a light output equivalent to 70 watts of standard incandescent lighting.

"With the addition of the iconic Tolomeo design to our offerings, I believe that Humanscale now has, by far, the strongest line-up of task lights—including high-efficiency LED—in the world," boasts Robert King, Humanscale's founder and CEO.

Images courtesy of Humanscale.