Borne out of a 1971 collaboration between Achille Castiglioni and Pio Manzù, the Parentesi was named for the parenthesis symbol-a visual reference to the nickel-plated shaped tube that lives on a floor-to-ceiling steel cable. "Pio Manzù had the original idea for Parentiesi," explains Achille Castiglioni. "He thought up a fixed vertical boom and a cylindrical box with a slot for the light, which went up and down: you stopped it with a screw. He replaced the boom with a metal cord that, when bent, creates friction and enables the lamp to be in position without requiring any screws.The steel cable can reach up to 157", and the tube allows the lamp head to move vertically along the cable to achieve bespoke height. The head fixture is injection-molded black elastomer, equipped with a switch. The Parentesi provides direct lighting and is available in black, nickel, or red, plus the limited edition shades of orange or turquoise. Note: Lamp bulb and dimmer are sold separately.