It is a balanced-arm lamp with external steel tension cables attached to springs hidden inside the arms. Its original configuration was a desk lamp with a heavy base, two straight polished aluminium arm sections (each approximately 45 cm long), and a matte aluminium reflector head which can swivel 360°. Many variants are now produced, including floor lamps and wall sconces.[2]
Tolomeo is the Italian version of the name Ptolemy.
It is sometimes considered as the successor of Artemide's Tizio lamp, with the advantages of a swiveling shade.[3]