Ochetta Lamp by Giuseppe Ostuni for O-Luce, Italy, c. 1953 - 9¾"

A compact and ingenious Italian lamp from the early 1950s, the model 215 “Ochetta,” designed by Giuseppe Ostuni for O-Luce, the lighting company he founded in Milan in 1945. Examples of the model are generally dated to around 1953. Its remarkably economical construction combines an adjustable brass tripod with a tapered apple-green lacquered metal shade with cream-toned interior. Two compass-like front legs slide along the central stem, changing the angle and stance of the lamp, while the articulated shade pivots to direct the light. A small ring at the rear allows the lamp to be hung directly on the wall, transforming it into a compact sconce. The present example retains its original materials and finish, with a pleasing patina and light wear consistent with age. 

The Ochetta captures the intelligence of postwar Italian lighting design, combining visual economy with mechanical ingenuity. Ostuni’s sliding tripod, articulated reflector, and hanging ring allow the lamp to shift easily between table and wall use, while its slender brass structure and simple conical shade give it a particularly clear, recognizable silhouette.

Despite its small scale, the Ochetta has the assured presence of an icon of Italian Mid-Century Modern design. The apple-green shade, aged brass, and delicate tripod create a refined interplay of color, line, and proportion, while its transformable construction expresses the ingenuity that defines the model. Equally at home on a bedside table, a desk, or suspended as a wall light, it introduces the precision and inventiveness of 1950s Italian design with a subtle, elegant presence. Its distinctive silhouette, ingenious mechanism, and association with Ostuni and O-Luce give it particular significance for collectors of postwar Italian lighting.