Sergio Asti “Venticinque Senior” for Candle (Italy, 1968): adjustable chrome reading floor lamp, documented and Compasso d’Oro-shortlisted.
Specifications
- Designer: Sergio Asti
- Manufacturer: Candle
- Country/Period: Italy, 1968 (1960s)
- Materials: Chrome-plated metal and brass
- Conditions: Good vintage condition; patina, light oxidation and minor wear to stem. Period wiring and original foot switch in working order but not compliant with current standards. Rewiring on request.
- Dimensions: H 120–170 × W 70 × base D 27 cm
- Literature: G. Gramigna, "Repertorio del design italiano per l'arredamento domestico. 1950-2000", Allemandi, 2003; "Candle: Illuminazione per l'arredamento", 1979 catalogue
- Price: €900
- Shipping: Contact us for a quote
Designed in 1968 by the Milanese architect Sergio Asti and produced by Candle, the “Venticinque Senior” completes the celebrated Venticinque family of reading lights. The series encompassed a table model (Junior), a medium floor version, and this taller, fully adjustable “Senior,” shortlisted for the Compasso d’Oro in 1970. Photographed here is the original Candle production, an out-of-series piece no longer manufactured.
The lamp’s essential geometry—cylindrical stem and domed head—gains quiet richness from its chrome-plated metal and brass construction. The height telescopes from 120 to 170 cm; the main stem rotates around its axis, and the spherical shade swivels, allowing precise directional light. A small aperture on the opposite side of the shade emits a soft counter-glow, subtly balancing task and ambient illumination.
Technically refined yet straightforward, the model retains its original foot switch and period wiring (functional but not to current standards; rewiring available on request). The design underline Asti’s attention to usability and Candle’s role in advancing flexible domestic lighting.
Candle—an energetic Milan label later integrated into FontanaArte—championed rigorously engineered forms with everyday versatility. Within this context, the Venticinque Senior stands out as a clear, intelligent reading lamp whose adjustability multiplies use scenarios without aesthetic compromise.
