On the desk of Judi Dench’s M in her MI6 office in Skyfall, before the explosion that destroys the room, sits an Artemide Tolomeo Basculante Tavolo. It is a quiet choice. The Tolomeo family, designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina, dates from 1987. This Basculante version swaps the aluminium head for a balanced diffuser that casts a soft glow. We think it suits working late.
Owning the Artemide Tolomeo Basculante Tavolo now
The spring-balanced arms hold whatever position you leave them in. The diffuser is balanced too: nudge it and it swings briefly before settling back. To our eye, it is the detail that makes the lamp feel made rather than assembled.
We would choose the parchment diffuser over satin. Parchment gives a warmer light and satin a somewhat clearer one, and a lamp meant for evenings suits warm. It belongs on a study desk or beside a reading chair, where it reads as furniture first and a film reference second. Both base and clamp versions are sold, so check which you are buying. More pieces from the same world are in Home & Interiors, and every film is listed under Films.
Specifications
| Model | Tolomeo Basculante Tavolo |
|---|---|
| Designers | Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina |
| Structure | Aluminium, with spring-balanced articulated arms |
| Diffuser | Parchment (also available in satin) |
| Light source | 7.5W, 816lm |
| Product codes | 0947010A (parchment), 0947020A (satin) |
| Tolomeo family launched | 1987 |
Full details are on Artemide’s own page for the Tolomeo Basculante Table.
