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Design Icon: The Snoopy Table Lamp by Flos

Renowned for its distinctive profile and bold colour options, The Snoopy Table Lamp by Flos is instantly recognisable as one of lighting design’s most vibrant creations.


It not only captures the playful colour of comics and the instantly recognisable shape of a pop culture icon but displays a characterful balance of art and function.


Cue a story of mistaken identity, political scandal and cultural intrigue that has lasted to this day.

Who designed the Snoopy Lamp?


The Snoopy Table Lamp by Flos was designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, two of the most influential Italian designers of the 20th century.

What year did the Snoopy Table Lamp come out?


The Snoopy lamp came out in 1967. It was released by Flos, an Italian lighting design company known for its high-quality lighting and innovative designs.


Flos is to this day a leading name in the design world, having collaborated with not only the Castiglioni brothers but Philippe Starck and Jasper Morrison. The Snoopy lamp is arguably the most iconic product to come out of a Flos collaboration, and is currently sold by select high-end retailers.


Image of the designers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

The Form: The design of the Snoopy Lamp


As its name suggests, the shade’s silhouette takes inspiration from the beloved cartoon character Snoopy from Peanuts magazine.


Its curved, sloping shade resembles Snoopy’s head. But the lamp’s design isn't only a visual comparison to the character, the design captures Snoopy’s characterful personality too with its playful curves and pops of colour.


Minimalist in design with clean lines and a simple form, its proportions have been carefully calculated so that the large overhanging shade is perfectly balanced by the polished Carrara marble base.

The shade itself is made from high-quality painted aluminium, with its sleek curvature reflecting light whilst adding to the lamp’s sculptural appearance. Its polished surface also adds a reflective quality for added visual impact.


Furthermore, the contrast of the smooth white marble base and the coloured aluminium shade (available in Black Gloss, Navy Blue, Green and Orange) creates a dynamic contemporary look and a colourful splash of personality.


Altogether, the design of the lamp combined with the high-quality craftsmanship and materials result in a long-lasting piece with a distinctly pop art feel.

The balance of art and function


The Flos Snoopy Table Lamp combines practical lighting needs with a flamboyant design packed with functional features.


The features


For customisable lighting options, the lamps’ integrated touch-sensitive dimmer and adjustable lamp shade means light can be focused or ambient depending on need.


The frosted bulb provides a soft, diffused that reduces glare, making for comfortable luminosity.


Another feature is the lamp’s polished Carrara marble base, sourced from Italy. This base further provides weighted stability, and the marbling adds a unique touch to every piece.


The innovation


But aside from its design and features, the lamp's innovation must be praised. It was one of the first designs to fuse metal and glass in such a way, balancing light diffusion with direct lighting.


The contrast of its sculptural form and practical functionality strongly influenced modern lighting design moving forwards, paving the way for designers to experiment with materials and finishes.


The Flos Snoopy Table Lamp also carries a design legacy due to its effortless combining of art and utility, with lighting not only serving a purpose but bringing a visual element to the process with its pop art form.

Flos and The Snoopy Table Lamp Legacy


The Castiglioni Brothers designed the Flos Snoopy Table Lamp with the philosophy that ordinary materials and forms could be reimagined to create innovative, long-lasting designs.


Their design aesthetic and language marries humour and usability alongside practicality and whimsicality to create fresh, fun, functional pieces with a “less is more” focus.

So, in many ways, the Snoopy Lamp is the perfect example of the Castiglioni Brothers’ approach to design.


In Flos's portfolio, the lamp also exemplifies the brand’s commitment to timeless design combined with high-quality craftsmanship and high-end materials, being a standout piece of Flos legacy.


With its unique blend of humour, simplicity and a user-centric design, it remains a symbol of Flos and the Castiglioni Brothers’ impact in the past, presence and future.

Flos Snoopy Table Lamp Awards


The Snoopy Lamp is part of the Museum of Modern Art's (MoMA) collection in New York due to its significance in design history. The museum focuses on objects of notable artistic and design value, with the lamp displayed as a cultural symbol of mid-20th century Italian design.


But it isn’t only the lamp that is widely celebrated, its designers have been gaining recognition through awards such as the Compasso d’Oro, with Achille Castiglioni also receiving the Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) title.


Where can I buy The Snoopy Table Lamp?


You can purchase one of your own Snoopy Lamps from certain high-end retailers such as Holloways of Ludlow or directly from Flos.


Own your piece of design history today with The Snoopy Table Lamp, blending art, function and fun across the decades.

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