Flos • PARENTESI
Suspension Lamp
Sliding tube in black painted steel and steel cable. Designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pio Manzu, in 1970, for FLOS. E27 LED bulb 13W not included (available to order in our physical stores).
The entire Flos collection can be ordered in our physical stores.
REF. 31080
L.tube 58cm
L.wire 400cm
In Stock
The timeless icon.
Inspired by the parenthesis symbol, Achille Castiglioni and Pio Manzù designed it in 1971. The rest is history.
Parentesi is light, affordable, and dynamic. Flexible and contemporary, but also timeless because it draws on the collective imagination: the light source is a simple bulb that turns 360 degrees.
Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) was born in Milan. He and brothers Livio (1911-1979) and Pier Giacomo (1913-1968) showed an early interest in industrial production. Achille went on to study architecture and became interested in the idea of developing a complete design process after graduating in 1944. Achille later joined the design practice founded by his brothers. Livio Castiglioni left the practice in 1952 and the remaining two brothers worked as a team until Pier Giacomo died in 1968.
Designs by the creative duo were instrumental in defining the playful intelligence for which Italian design was known in the latter half of the 20th century. The Castiglioni Brothers were also renowned for their lighting design, most famously for the Arco lamp which is still in production 60 years later. In 1956, Achille was among the founders of the ADI (Association for Industrial Design).
New York’s Museum of Modern Art owns 14 of his pieces. Other works can be found in important museums around the world. Achille Castiglioni received 9 Compasso d’Oro awards.
A unique talent, Pio Manzú was the inventor of the first multi purpose vehicle and author of immortal transport icons such as the Fiat 127. Castiglioni knew his work, but the two never met.
Thanks to Manzú’s widow, Castiglioni was presented with his drawings, and one caught his attention. It was a slotted, light emitting cylindrical tin resting on a rod connecting ceiling and floor: thanks to a screw, it could make a half turn, and move up, down and stop. It was the original idea behind Parentesi. "There was a lot of Manzù in that drawing", recalls Giacomo Manzoni, son of the maestro and curator of his Foundation, “his obsession with simplicity, cost reduction, everyday objects”.
Flos, the Italian brand of lighting par excellence, is on the borderline that unites and divides art and design, manufacturing and industry, individual creation and collective imagination.
With over 50 years of activity, Flos has received numerous Compasso D'Oro, one of the most important design awards in the world, the result of the work philosophy the brand has adopted since the beginning: to work with the best designers in the world (whether undiscovered talents or established masters), using revolutionary techniques and materials and always keeping abreast of cultural and market trends.
The entire history of Flos is full of transformative moments and design icons, such as the Arco and Parentesi lamps, designed by the Castiglioni brothers, or the Ktribe family of lamps by Philippe Starck. A Flos catalogue is not only an inventory of iconic lamps, but also a true directory of established designers such as Gino Sarfatti, Rodolfo Dordoni, Antonio Citterio, Marcel Wanders, Konstantin Grcic, Jasper Morrison, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec or Patricia Urquiola.
Today, experimentation opens up new paths with the use of avant-garde materials and hi-tech solutions, such as OLED technology and new eco-sustainable materials. Flos' commitment to sustainability is impressive. The company actively seeks environmentally friendly solutions throughout its design and manufacturing processes. It incorporates energy-efficient technologies and materials, ensuring that its lighting fixtures not only provide exceptional illumination but also minimize their impact on the planet.
In addition to its residential lighting solutions, Flos has also made significant contributions to the architectural lighting industry. The company has worked on prestigious projects around the globe, collaborating with architects to create custom lighting solutions that enhance the beauty and functionality of spaces.
Flos isn't just another lighting company, it's a cultural one. Merging tecnhology and emotion, it integrates light into architecture and nature, bringing a sophisticated, poetic sensibility to all its creations. Taking the long view, Flos creates sustainable and timeless lighting fixtures, each of which it refines to its truest essence.
