Artemide's Nesso is one of the finest icons of modern Italian space age
lighting design. According to design historian Lucia Fontana; its
dimple is said to have been inspired by "l'ombelico di una bella donna";
the sensuous shape of beautiful Italian woman's belly button...you be
the judge!
Artemide's Nesso Lamp was a creation of Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti
Città Nuova. Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova was formed in the
1960s by Pierluigi Cervellati, Umberto Maccaferri, Giancarlo Mattioli,
Franco Morelli, Gianpaolo Mazzucato, and Mario Zaffagnini. Lead designer
of the Nesso Lamp is Giancarlo Mattioli. The Nesso Lamp is a result of
a competition staged by Artemide and Editrice Domus, where it took 1°
Premio Concorso, 1965 Milan (Italy). It is featured in the Twentieth
Century Design Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
(USA), the Design Collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York
(USA), permanent exhibit at the Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO (USA),
represented in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem (Israel), permanent exhibit
at Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Montréal, Montréal (Canada), Museo
Permanente del Design Italiano 1945-1990, Triennale di Milano, Milan
(Italy). The Nesso Lamp was perhaps a one-hit wonder for Gruppo
Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova, albeit a very beautiful one!
