Flos.

Flos

Flos is the Italian lighting editor founded in 1962 in Merano by Dino Gavina and Cesare Cassina, with Sergio Gandini as operational director. The house emerged from its first year as a major actor of Italian design through a catalogue of lamps signed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni: Arco, Toio, Taraxacum, all designed in 1962, became 20th-century icons and have been continuously produced since. The catalogue expanded to Tobia Scarpa, Pio Manzù, Jasper Morrison, Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Patricia Urquiola, and Konstantin Grcic. LAPIERRE sources and authenticates primarily Flos lamps from productions of 1962 to 2010.

Brand history

Flos was founded in 1962 in Merano, in northern Italy. The founders were Dino Gavina, an editor already established with his eponymous house, and Cesare Cassina, the same Cassina who led the Meda furniture house. Sergio Gandini joined as operational director and structured the editorial strategy. The house positioned itself from the start on designer lighting, publishing the work of brothers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, two of the most recognised Italian post-war designers.

The founding year was also the year of the first successes. The Castiglioni brothers signed three iconic pieces in 1962: the Arco, arc-shaped floor lamp in stainless steel and Carrara marble counterweight enabling overhead lighting without ceiling fixture; the Toio, ready-made of a car headlight on telescopic rod; the Taraxacum, suspension in cluster of small bulbs. These three pieces continue to be produced without structural change. The Castiglioni catalogue expanded with the Snoopy (1967), Parentesi (with Pio Manzù, 1971), Frisbi (1978), Brera (1992).

From the 1990s, under Piero Gandini, son of the operational founder, Flos opened to international collaborations. Jasper Morrison signed the Glo-Ball (1998). Philippe Starck designed the Miss K, Ara, Rosy Angelis, Romeo Moon. Marcel Wanders, Patricia Urquiola, Konstantin Grcic, Ron Gilad, and Michael Anastassiades joined the catalogue. Foster + Partners and Vincent Van Duysen signed architectural luminaires. The house also integrated several lighting brands (Antares, Lights2u). In 2014, Flos was acquired by the Investindustrial group, then integrated into Design Holding (which also includes B&B Italia, Maxalto, Louis Poulsen). Production remains primarily Italian.

Signature pieces we source

Arco (Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, 1962). Arc floor lamp in polished stainless steel, solid Carrara marble counterweight, painted aluminium shade with cross-ventilation pattern. The Arco enables overhead lighting without ceiling fixture, a radical principle for 1962. Major signature piece of Flos and Italian design.

Toio (Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, 1962). Floor lamp diverted from a car headlight on telescopic metal rod, visible low-voltage transformer at the base, exposed wiring. Ready-made manifesto applied to industrial lighting.

Taraxacum (Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, 1962, then 1988). Suspension in cluster of small bulbs; later versions (Taraxacum 88) use a dodecahedral metal structure supporting 60 halogen bulbs for a luminous globe effect.

Parentesi (Achille Castiglioni and Pio Manzù, 1971). Suspension with double metal tube sliding along a tensioned floor-to-ceiling cable, height-adjustable. 1979 Compasso d'Oro.

Frisbi (Achille Castiglioni, 1978). Suspension with spherical methacrylate diffuser hung beneath a reflector disc, double direct and indirect lighting. Late-1970s signature piece.

Glo-Ball (Jasper Morrison, 1998). Series of lamps in sandblasted blown glass: Glo-Ball S suspension, C ceiling, F floor, T table. Flos contemporary signature piece.

Snoopy (Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, 1967). Desk lamp with matte-black-lacquered metal shade and marble base, characteristic profile evoking the comic-strip character. 1967 Compasso d'Oro.

Authenticating an original

Authentication of a Flos lamp rests on combined markings. Flos marking: engraved, stamped, or labelled on base, metal arm, or cable depending on model. Period label: Flos period label glued on arm or base, mentioning lamp name and designer. Material consistency: solid Carrara marble for Arco (counterweight exceeds 60 kg), polished stainless steel for arm, painted aluminium for shade. Commercial car headlight for Toio (original Flos low-voltage transformer). Thick sandblasted blown glass for Glo-Ball. Wiring: textile sheathing in 1960s-1990s productions, PVC sheathing in recent productions. Arco copies frequently present synthetic or lightened marble, less resistant arm, lower-quality shade, colour off the original white. Counterfeit Toios often use a generic headlight without consistency with the original commercial automotive optic. For pieces without clear marking, LAPIERRE cross-references multiple visual and technical clues before validation.

LAPIERRE process for this brand

Each incoming Flos lamp is inspected for markings, marble condition (for Arco), chrome and lacquer condition, electrical function, and dimensional consistency with the Flos standard. Arcos are checked for marble weight and integrity, arm stainless polish, aluminium shade, and wiring. Toios are checked for original low-voltage transformer and headlight. Glo-Balls are checked for blown glass and mounting. Pieces whose authenticity cannot be confirmed are refused. For sold pieces, LAPIERRE can offer minor electrical work (socket replacement, standards compliance) via partner workshop if necessary.

Request a search

A specific Flos lamp (Arco, Toio, Taraxacum, Parentesi, Glo-Ball) in a particular colour or condition not currently in selection? Write to LAPIERRE with the brief: model, finish, desired condition. Our team activates its Italian and European sourcing network. Response within a few days with availability and quote.