Philippe Malouin's "Bilboquet" Lamp is a Future-Proof Classic
Designed for Flos, the lamp’s form is based on an old game.
Canadian designer Philippe Malouin has revealed his first design for Flos, in the form of a playful table lamp.
As Malouin describes, the Bilboquet lamp is almost anthropomorphic in its design. Its entire form takes its cues from that of a magnetic ball joint, as well as bilboquet – a game originating from France in the 16th century.
In a similar way to a magnetic ball joint, the lamp is made up of two colorful cylinders that are joined by a magnetic sphere. The top cylinder is able to rotate fully around the sphere, and direct the light in any direction required. In terms of its likeness to bilboquet, it mirrors the shape of the tool used to play the game, which consits of a wooden ball tied to a string, with a goblet-like “cup” in which the player catches the ball.
“Simple in appearance but full of personality, Bilboquet is an adjustable table lamp that allows you to direct light in a playful yet precise manner,” Malouin said. “Taking cues from magnetic ball joints, Bilboquet offers a full range of movement for a variety of functions. Whether used as a task light on a desk or to provide a soft glow against a wall, or directed at a good book, Bilboquet shines light where it is needed.”
The Bilboquet lamp inside Malouin’s east London homePablo Di Prima
Pablo Di Prima
Pablo Di Prima
Pablo Di Prima
Pablo Di Prima
For both Flos and Malouin, it was important that the lamp made use of innovative materials in a bid to be as sustainable as possible. The polycarbonate used to create the external casing was derived from a by-product of paper production (rather than the usual petroleum). According to Flos, unlike other plant-based plastics, this particular material doesn’t require dedicated cultivation and is therefore modest in its use of resources.
The Bilboquet lamp is available in a three-color palette: sage, tomato and linen, with the shade extending beyond the main casing of the design and onto the cable and plug. It is available to purchase directly from Flos, and is priced at £247 GPB (approximately $300 USD).
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