Tolomeo quickly became a classic after the first version was designed for Artemide by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1987. The name Tolomeo comes from the ancient Greek and means powerful in battle, and it is also the name of the lamp. The Tolomeo Basculante lamp was designed in 2006 and is made of aluminum and steel. The power is in the flexible body that can be easily adjusted to direct the light where it is needed. What distinguishes the Tolomeo Basculante lamp from the Tolomeo Basculante floor lamp is that it allows the leg to be angled more to give a good and close light. Light shades are not included.

The light shade is made of either parchment paper or gray satin fabric. Tolomeo is available in several variants. They all stand for simple function, elegance, and solid craftsmanship. In 1989, Tolomeo's designers were awarded the Compasso d'Oro.