Swiss architect Mario Botta may be renowned for his impressive postmodern architecture projects such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, but the chairs, lighting and other furniture he created reflect a mastery of geometrically rich forms and an elegant application of simple symmetry.
Born in Mendrisio, Switzerland, in 1943, Botta gained an interest in architecture at an early age. He apprenticed at the architectural firm Carloni and Camenisch and designed his first building — a two-family house at Morbis Superiore in Ticino — at age 16. During the early 1960s, Botta attended the Liceo Artistico in Milan and then studied at the University Institute of Architecture in Venice under art historian Giuseppe Mazzariol and influential Italian architect Carlo Scarpa.
While studying in Venice, Botta worked for Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier — whose career spanned hundreds of architecture projects — and gained inspiration from Estonian-American architect Louis Kahn, who was known for his modern and brutalist architectural style. In 1969, Botta completed his studies and established his practice in Lugano, designing and building single-family homes.
Throughout the 1970s, Botta gained fame for his innovative, geometrical designs and deceptively simple forms, such as his first large-scale building project in 1977 — the Middle School in Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland. Botta later established himself as one of the masters of 1980s postmodern design in his architecture and his furniture. His postmodern ideas characterize the dining room tables and seating he designed for companies such as Alias, as well as his table lamps and floor lamps for Artemide.
Botta’s noteworthy architectural projects designed during the 1990s and 2000s include the Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center in Tel Aviv, Israel; the Monastery of the Holy Apostles Saint Peter and Andrew in Lviv, Ukraine; and the Theater of Architecture in Mendrisio, in 2018.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Mario Botta lighting fixtures, seating, tables and decorative objects.
"Mezzo Oracolo" table lamp by Gae Aulenti for Artemide, Italy, 1969
By Artemide, Gae Aulenti
Located in Argelato, BO
1.252 The renowned "Mezza Oracolo" was designed by the brilliant Italian architect and designer Gae Aulenti. The upper part is dominated by a majestic spherical diffuser in white op...
Metal, Brass
Tiki Table Lamp by Kazuhide Takahama for Leucos, Italy 1980s (Big size model)
By Kazuhide Takahama, Dino Gavina
Located in Argelato, BO
The Tiki table lamp is one of the most iconic and interesting works by Japanese architect and designer Kazuhide Takahama. Made in 1983, it is composed...
Metal
Neverrino Murano Glass Table Lamps, Gae Aulenti att., Italy 1970s Set of 2
By Gae Aulenti, Vistosi
Located in Argelato, BO
Extraordinary pair of Murano glass table lamps, with their blue Murrine they will color your home environment with a beautiful warm light. These are blown glass works, and all the ...
Murano Glass, Murrine
Set of 2 'Mania' wall lamps by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, Italy
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Argelato, BO
Set of 2 "Mania" wall lamps in white glass and metal by Vico Magistretti. "Mania" is one of the first lamps designed by Vico Magistretti, presented at the XIII Triennale di Milano (1...
Brass
Set of 2 'Mania' wall lamps by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, Italy
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Argelato, BO
Set of 2 "Mania" wall lamps in white glass and metal by Vico Magistretti. "Mania" is one of the first lamps designed by Vico Magistretti, presented at the XIII Triennale di Milano (1...
Brass
Pair of table lamps by Franco Albini for Sirrah, model Colibrì, Italy
By Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare pair of "Colibrì" model table lamps, designed by the famous Italian architect and designer Franco Albini together with Franca Helg and Paolo Piva for Sirrah, Italy, 1983. This ...
Plastic
Shogun Mario Botta black and white Table Lamp for Artemide, 1986 set of 2
By Mario Botta
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Shogun Mario Botta Table Lamp for Artemide. The project is one of the most iconic examples of design of the Eighties, in which geometric rigor and formal experimentation come togethe...
Metal
'Shogun' Table Lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide
By Artemide, Mario Botta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Shogun' Table Lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide. Originally designed in 1986, the authorized re-edition of this table lamp is still made in Italy today using only the finest quality materials and scrupulous attention to detail by Artemide. 'Shogun' is part of the Artemide masterpieces collection and is featured in the collections of museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The lamp remains an icon, and a stunning work of contemporary design. Its adjustable shade marries functionality with design eloquently. Mario Botta was born in 1943 in Mendrisio, Switzerland. In his work he took inspiration from such masters as Le Corbusier, Louis I...
Metal, Steel
Mario Botta 'Shogun' Table Lamp for Artemide, Italy, 1986
By Artemide, Mario Botta
Located in Brescia, Brescia
The 'Shogun' table lamp, designed by Mario Botta for Artemide in 1986, embodies the visionary architect's signature style of geometric precision and functional artistry. Crafted in I...
Metal
Shogun Table Lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide, 1980s
By Artemide, Mario Botta
Located in bruxelles, BE
Black and white table lamp in metal and plastic designed by Mario Botta, model Shogun. Stamped Artemide, Mario Botta. Wear due to time and age of the lamp. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US F...
Metal
Italian Model Shogun Tavolo Table Lamp by Mario Botta for Artemide, 1980s
By Mario Botta
Located in Hamburg, DE
Imposing table lamp by Artemide based on a design by Mario Botta from the 80s. Postmodernism in its purest form in color and materiality. A timeless design classic that easily fits ...
Metal
20th Century, Mario Botta for Artemide Table Lamp mod. Shogun
By Mario Botta, Artemide
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Mario Botta is a Swiss architect born in Mendrisio, Ticino on April 1, 1943. He went to the Art College in Milan for his baccalaureate, and then to Università Iuav di Venezia for his...
Aluminum, Metal
