Inspired by Ashford and Simpson’s 1977 disco hit “Bourgie, Bourgie,” the Bourgie lamp by Italian designer Ferruccio Laviani (b. 1960) is a cheeky take on modern consumerism in the Western world. Laviani explained that he wanted to juxtapose our desire for wealth and status against our ever-increasing reliance on Chinese manufacturers to produce our so-called luxury goods. This, of course, was an irony that he deftly reveals with the lamp’s excessively showy baroque style and mass-market plastic material.
Laviani designed the Bourgie in 2003 for the Milan-based furniture company, Kartell, where he’d been working for 12 years, first as an exhibition designer and later as a furniture designer and art director. Kartell designers work mostly in plastics and thermoplastics, and the Bourgie lamp was no exception. For his Bourgie, Laviani used either a transparent or batch-dyed polycarbonate, which is both easy to recycle and incredibly durable. The lamp is currently offered in nine colorways that range from a simple translucent to a carousel of gold, turquoise, fuschia and orange.
Laviani told the New York Times that Dolce & Gabbana was a client when he conceived of the Bourgie lamp. “They came from baroque roots; it’s a part of the DNA of their company,” he said of the Italian luxury fashion house. “I always say I would never use gold if I’d never worked with Dolce & Gabbana. When I worked with gold in the Bourgie lamp, I was no longer afraid to use gold. I learned how to use it. It’s okay.”
Each variation of the shade casts different playfully colored shadows, making the lamp a statement piece for a living room or office.
Born in 1960 in Cremona, Italy, Laviani studied at a number of prestigious schools, eventually earning a degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1986. Since then, he has worked with a number of manufacturers and design companies as an architect and product and interior designer.
In 2013, Kartell invited 14 contemporary designers to reimagine the Bourgie lamp in their own style to celebrate the lamp’s 10-year anniversary. Philippe Starck, Christophe Pillet, Patricia Urquiola and Nendo were a few to take on the challenge, creating wild, whimsical and worshipful renditions of the classic.
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Multicolored Blue by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining Classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The Baroque style bas...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Multicolored Fuchsia by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Crystal by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style base is composed of three interconnecting decorated layers, while the large lampshade...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Glossy Black by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Gold by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
D/Vision.2 Green Brown Deconstructed Trumeau in Solid Wood, Glass and Brass
By Ferruccio Laviani, Fratelli Boffi
Located in Lentate sul Seveso, Monza e Brianza
Indulge in the avant-garde design of Ferruccio Laviani with the D/Vision .2 cabinet—an extraordinary piece that redefines the classic trumeau of the 1950s through a process of artist...
Brass
D/Vision.0 Deconstructed Cabinet with orange plexiglass by Ferruccio Laviani
By Fratelli Boffi, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Lentate sul Seveso, Monza e Brianza
With D/Vision Ferruccio Laviani makes a process of decomposition and separation, on different levels. Starting from the trumeau, a fashionable item back in the 1950’s, he redesigns i...
Mirror, Plexiglass, Wood, Walnut
Ferruccio Laviani "Bourgie" Crystal Table Lamp for Kartell, Italy
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An iconic Bourgie table lamp designed by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell, Italy, executed entirely in transparent crystal-clear polycarbonate. One of Kartell’s most recognizable lighti...
Polycarbonate
F* Hole Gueridon Small Table in Mahogany Wood and Pink Fluo Hole by Laviani
By Fratelli Boffi, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Lentate sul Seveso, Monza e Brianza
The F* Hole Gueridon side table by Ferruccio Laviani is made of black ebony and covered by dark feather Mahogany. To its classic taste and proportions, decorative details are added,...
Brass
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Silver by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Multicolored Titanium by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Copper by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style bas...
Metal
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in White and Gold by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining Classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The Baroque style bas...
Plastic
H 12.21 in W 6.7 in D 6.7 in
Kartell Take Lamp in Crystal by Ferruccio Laviani, Italian 21 Century
By Feruccio Laviani
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
The classic icon of the bedside lamp is revisited by Kartell's technology to become an industrial product in a variety of colour shades. The shape of Take is the result of the joinin...
Plastic
H 61.23 in W 59.06 in D 19.69 in
Guillerme & Chambron Highboard in Solid Oak and Brass
By Guillerme et Chambron, Votre Maison
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, sideboard, solid stained oak, brass, France, 1960s This charming large sideboard is made by the designer duo Guillerme & Chambron. This p...
Brass
H 92.52 in W 47.25 in D 20.87 in
Midcentury Trumeau Handpainted in Italy Wood Venetian Art Technique by Cupioli
By Cupioli made in Italy
Located in Rimini, IT
This Trumeau has been handmade using the technique of Venetian art. In the 18th century in Venice the fashion of lacquering spread. Using small prints, cut out and then glued on the wood, then handpainted and lacquered at the end. The finishing was in fact in shellac which, passed in several very thin layers, gave brightness and uniformity to the decoration. This type of finishing was placed both on the outside of the Venetian furniture of the eighteenth century, and on the inside of the drawers and doors . The wooden structure of this piece of furniture is hidden by a flowering of pleasant designs. The craquelé finishing tipical of ancient painting...
Wood, Art Glass
H 78 in W 34.5 in D 16 in
Pair of Burl Wood, Brass and Glass Showcase Curio Cabinets
By Tomlinson
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of china vitrine cabinets by Tomlinson are an excellent example of their timeless quality and design. This rectangular top cabinet features two doors with glass panels and brass...
Brass
H 87.8 in W 76.38 in D 21.66 in
French Louis-Philippe Style Handcrafted Glass Bookcase in Solid Cherry Wood
Located in Pontaubault, NORMANDIE
This bookcase is made with 2 parts is made of French cherrywood and also available in oak. - The Upper part has 3 glass doors and 3 removable shelves on wooden racks. - The Lower ...
Wood, Cherry, Oak
H 51.19 in W 37.8 in D 18.71 in
Guillerme & Chambron Cabinet in Solid Oak and Glass
By Guillerme et Chambron, Votre Maison
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, cupboard, solid oak, glass, France, 1960s Charming cupboard designed by the acclaimed designer duo Guillerme et Chambron. One can hide its pe...
Glass, Oak
H 29.53 in Dm 19.69 in
Cabinet in Furs Brown Cabinet
By Fratelli Boffi
Located in Milan, IT
Part of a series of furniture pieces finished in leather, this unconventional cylindrical cabinet boasts a dark oak structure resting on a plinth base with a mirroring top. Versatile...
Faux Fur, Oak
H 39.38 in W 47.25 in D 15.75 in
Custom furniture in brass and sage green glass handmade justfunituress designer
Located in Guazzora, IT
The mobile bar from JustFurnituress is an emblematic example of how Italian craftsmanship can blend contemporary design and functionality into a unique and distinctive piece of furni...
Brass
H 59.06 in W 39.38 in D 16.54 in
Hollywood Regency Italian Cabinet in Brown Lacquered Wood and Brass, Italy 1980s
By Mario Sabot
Located in Roma, IT
Marvellous and elegant Italian showcase cabinet from 1970. The excellent quality of dark brown lacquer with glass panels embellished and solid brass is mixed with a lacquered shelf ...
Brass
H 70.87 in W 31.5 in D 17.72 in
Contemporary Brutalist Cabinet in Solid Oak, Brown
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Brutalist cabinet made of solid oak Dimensions: 180 x 80 x 45 cm Unique piece made to order. Founded by artist Denis Mi...
Oak
H 70.87 in W 31.5 in D 17.72 in
Contemporary Brutalist Cabinet in Solid Oak, Brown
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary Brutalist Cabinet made of solid oak Dimensions: 180 x 80 x 45 cm Unique piece made to order. Customizable. Founded by D...
Oak
H 36 in W 40 in D 24 in
Basilica Dresser by Laylo Studio in Solid Wood, Blackened Steel, and Brass
By Laylo Studio
Located in Chicago, IL
Natural walnut, blackened steel, satin brass, and merino wool felt. 5 Drawers - 40” wide x 36” tall x 24” deep. Custom dresser built in celebration of both craft and detail. The hand-finished, mitered wood cabinet is filled with felt-lined, dovetailed drawers. Machined brass pivoting pulls adorn the surface of the drawers juxtaposing contemporary with antiquity. Hand carved wood legs feature “honey-dripper” ribbing and allow for easy leveling of the cabinet on uneven floors. Made entirely by hand in our Chicago studio. Available in custom dimensions, configurations, and finishes with optional arched metal hutch...
Brass, Steel, Bronze
H 13 in Dm 5.5 in
Purple Kartell Easy Pendant Light Designed by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Vienna, AT
Easy is a cylindrical suspension lamp that enchants and excites with plays of color and light. Once turned on the polycarbonate is enhanced by a myriad of reflections. 3 pieces avai...
Acrylic
H 34 in W 51.25 in D 22 in
Ocean Green Painted Murano Glass and Brass Two-Door Cabinet
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazingly crafted 2-door cabinet clad completely in Murano green glass and trimmed with brass, also features wonderful tapering glass legs. Interior long clear glass shelf. T...
Glass
H 12.29 in W 6.69 in D 7.08 in
Kartell Take Table Lamp Ferruccio Laviani Green Transparent Polycarbonate 2003
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
The iconic Take table lamp, designed by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell in 2003. A celebrated example of contemporary Italian design, the Take lamp is instantly recognizable for its p...
Polycarbonate
H 26.75 in Dm 14.5 in
Pair of Black Bourgie Lamps by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Chicago, IL
These striking table lamps are the iconic Bourgie Lamp by Italian designer Ferruccio Laviani (b. 1960), manufactured by Milan-based furniture company Kartell. Inspired by Ashford and Simpson...
Plastic
H 25.99 in Dm 14.57 in
Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell Black "Bourgie" Table Lamp, Italy 2015
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Naples, IT
Bourgie is a Table Lamp designed by Ferruccio Laviani and produced by the brand Kartell. The Bourgie lamp is a Baroque-style creation with a plissé-effect lampshade made of polycarb...
Plastic
H 26.5 in Dm 14.5 in
Ferruccio Laviani Crystal "Bourgie" Lamps for Kartell, a Pair
By Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Bourgie lamps in crystal designed by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell. The Kartell Bourgie table lamp is a Kartell favorite due to designer ...
Plastic
H 27 in Dm 14.5 in
Vintage Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Crystal by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Stockton, NJ
A vintage Kartell Bourgie lamp in crystal by Ferruccio Laviani.
Plastic
H 26.78 in Dm 14.57 in
Table Lamp Kartell Bourgie Black by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Roma, IT
A lamp with an unmistakable style, a true best-seller by Kartell, Bourgie marvellously combines classicism, wealth and tradition with innovation and irony. The base, in Baroque style...
Acrylic
