The world-famous Pipistrello table lamp was designed by the female designer and architect Gae Aulenti in 1965. Aside from her numerous architectural masterpieces, including the refurbishing of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the restoration of the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, Aulenti has also designed products for Artemide, Louis Vuitton, and Martinelli Luce.
The table is inspired in equal parts by a sharp focus on function and the organic shapes of nature. The lampshade is designed to look like the wings of a bat, hence the name that means ‘bat’ in Italian. Just like various other designers in post-war Europe, Gae Aulenti is fascinated by the new avant-garde school of design, and this fascination is reflected in the lamp’s experimental touch.
The lamp consists of a lacquered metal stand, a stainless steel telescope stand that makes it easy to adjust the height of the light, and a lampshade made from opal-white methacrylate. The on/off button is located on the cable.