Artemide's Shogun table lamp, designed by architect Mario Botta, is a simple yet striking classic from 1986. The Shogun lamp features a sturdy base with black and white stripes and two perforated metal shades. These shades can be tilted using the levers on their sides, allowing for adjustable lighting angles. Even when switched off, the Shogun serves as a focal point in any interior, and when lit, its splendour is truly revealed: the perforated surfaces and arched shapes of the shades cast a graphic interplay of light and shadow on nearby walls, an effect that changes with the angle of the shades.
With its dramatic 1980s aesthetics, the Shogun table lamp continues to captivate in contemporary interiors, whether used as a desk lamp or a delightful accent in a living room. Inspired by ancient Japanese samurai rulers, the Shogun is displayed in the Twentieth Century Design Collection at the Metropolitan Museum, New York.