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Paolo Rizzatto - 265 Wall Lamp (Flos, 1973) White

White Flos 265 wall lamp by Paolo Rizzatto mounted on a white wall above a dining table. - view 1
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Estimated value

$800 - $1,400

Rarity

Common(3/10)

Category

Interior

Brand

Flos

Era

Late 20th century to modern production

Origin

🇮🇹 Italy

Artist / Creator

Paolo Rizzatto

Authenticity

Moderate(65%)
61

PAOLO RIZZATTO - 265 WALL LAMP (FLOS, 1973) WHITE: IDENTIFICATION

A wall-mounted cantilevered lamp featuring a 205 cm adjustable steel arm and a tapered counterweight. The design utilizes a liquid-painted steel reflector and wall support, finished here in white. The arm pivots on a wall-mounted bracket, allowing for 180-degree horizontal rotation and significant vertical articulation, functioning as a structural bridge between wall and task lighting.

Compare with other interior pieces in the archive: Art Deco Club Chair, Art Deco Demi-Lune Club Chair by Studio G. B. Wernicke, Contemporary Floor-Standing Speaker (Column Design).

PRODUCTION PERIOD

Designed by Paolo Rizzatto for Arteluce in 1973 and later produced by Flos, this fixture represented a departure from traditional floor lamps by utilizing a cantilever system to provide overhead illumination without a floor base. Rizzatto, an architect by training, applied structural engineering ...
Designed by Paolo Rizzatto for Arteluce in 1973 and later produced by Flos, this fixture represented a departure from traditional floor lamps by utilizing a cantilever system to provide overhead illumination without a floor base. Rizzatto, an architect by training, applied structural engineering principles to the balance mechanism, which remains in production nearly 50 years after its debut due to its functional minimalism.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

The 205 cm arm is balanced by a specific tapered iron counterweight that allows the lamp to hold its position through tension alone.

2

Though designed in 1973, Flos only introduced a Chromatica colorway in 2021, while the original white, black, and silver versions have remained the standard for decades.

SCARCITY

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Rarity 3/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 29 interior items at rarity 3 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • High prevalence of modern 1:1 scale reproductions in the market
  • Visible assembly lacks a close-up of the manufacturer label usually found on the wall plate or inside the shade
  • Wiring and plug type aren't visible to distinguish age of production
How does authenticity detection work?

DESIGN HISTORIAN'S TAKE

Furniture Historian & Restoration Specialist

Furniture Expert

The silhouette and structural components are an exact match for the Rizzatto Model 265; the 0.92 confidence accounts for the high quality of contemporary replicas which can only be distinguished by weight and label verification.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Distinctive 205 cm steel cantilevered arm profile
  • 2Tapered conical counterweight on the terminal end of the primary rod
  • 3Characteristic 180-degree wall mounting bracket with vertical pinning
  • 4Half-sphere reflector with exposed black electrical cord loop
  • 5White liquid-paint finish consistent with Flos factory specifications

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Replica models often feature thinner steel tubing or lighter counterweights that cause the arm to sag over time.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Inspect the inner rim of the diffuser shade for the 'FLOS' or 'Arteluce' stamp
  • →Verify the presence of a sticker on the wall mounting plate
  • →Check the weight of the counterweight; authentic units use cast iron to achieve the necessary balance

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The reflector shows high reflectivity suggesting recent production or well-maintained paint; cord exits the bottom of the wall bracket as per standard 265 specifications.

Weight & feel

The assembly weighs approximately 6 kg, with the primary heft concentrated in the cast iron counterweight to stabilize the 2-meter extension arm.

DESIGN MARKET VALUE

$800 - $1,400

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Mid-century modern collectors and interior designers looking for architectural lighting solutions.

What increases value

  • •Flos brand authentication label
  • •Originality of the liquid-paint finish (no chips or yellowing)
  • •Strictness of the tension in the pivot joints

What lowers value

  • •Loss of the counterweight or replacement with a non-original part
  • •Structural bending of the steel arm from improper handling
  • •Wiring modifications that ignore original safety standards

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Early Arteluce production labels from the 1970s
  • •Pristine original matte or semi-gloss finish without oxidation at joints

Grade & condition

Finish integrity, joint tension, and electrical safety/originality.

Rarity & demand

CommonHigh demandSells quickly
Browse similar interior objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

BA

bagi
The Keeper•9 items

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ABOUT INTERIOR

Furniture, lamps, lighting, chandeliers, decorative objects for the home.

Interior value and rarity guide

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