marco de masi designs a floor lamp inspired by the burning mirrors of archimedes
during the siege of syracuse in 212-213 BC, it is said that archimedes used burning mirrors as a weapon against the roman fleet.
it is said that during the siege of syracuse between 212-213 BC, greek mathematician and inventor archimedes used ‘burning mirrors’ as a weapon against marcus claudius marcellus and his roman fleet. millennia later, this ancient technology serves as inspiration to rome-based designer marco de masi and his new lighting design.
archimede floor lamp
all images by @iamshape/@alineritania, courtesy of marco de masi
archimede by marco de masi is a contemporary floor lamp composed of a calacatta marble base and a hinged steel mirror. the light source is fixed within the marble base, from where it projects to the mirrored part of the design. just like archimedes and his burning glass, the light from the base is reflected and refracted by the mirror. through the double finish of the mirror – in both brushed and polished steel – the lamp creates two different effects, either a direct or a scattered light.
archimede and its reflected light
calacatta marble base
brrushed steel mirror
polished steel mirror
archimede floor lamp concept
project info:
project name: archimede
design: marco de masi
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