Sarfatti’s Model 600 table lamp was designed in 1966 — the same year that Bottega Veneta was founded in Vicenza. Just like Bottega Veneta’s earliest bag designs, which were distinguished by their supple shapes and smooth leather, the Model 600 proposed a new kind of flexibility, with a softening of constituent parts and forms. Pushing beyond the rigidity of a conventional lamp base, Sarfatti designed a base of lead shot pellets, encased in smooth leather. This innovation allowed the lamp to sit on the table with a new kind of ease, while also enabling to adapt the light angle.

In Flos and Bottega Veneta’s reinterpretation of the Model 600, the innovative leather base is developed in signature Bottega Veneta Intrecciato and in Intreccio Foulard editions.

Reflecting the innovative craft that is at the core of both companies, the lamp is equipped with the latest LED technology, while retaining the shape of the original light bulb.

Suitable for floor or table use, the lamp provides precise yet soft and relaxing lighting. It can emit direct or indirect light, depending on the angle of the reflector. The lamp is available in small and large editions, and in a variety of colourways, including black, grey, and signature Bottega Veneta green.

Behind the design

Some accounts from the time claim that inspiration for the Model 600 came from a bag of hunting pellets. Others say it was also inspired by an ashtray designed to rest on the armrest of a chair, typical of the time, which Sarfatti recalled seeing at his grandmother's house.

In May 1968, the lamp was exhibited at the Milan Triennial XIV. Its remarkable and unprecedented functionality ensured that the Model 600 remained in production for a long time.

While many Gino Sarfatti designs still appear incredibly current, a contemporary re-release demands not only the adoption of the latest LED technology but also the use of modern materials and processes with a view to sustainability.