You guys know BIC? For folks who smoke, you are probably more familiar with their disposable lighters. But for people who recall their school days, it is the go-to brand for pens—along with Pilot Pen and Paper Mate’s Kilometrico. It’s iconic, dare I say.
Now, marking the brand’s 75th anniversary (which technically was last year), Italian design brand seletti has reimagined the iconic BIC Cristal Pen as a five-foot-tall lamp. It is absolutely surreal seeing the legendary BIC Cristal Pen blown up to a giant scale and turned into a functional lamp. And yes, it is a functional lamp. It can be used as a floor lamp, a pendant, or as a wall sconce.
Seletti presented the pen that started it all at a 12:1 scale with “materials chosen to evoke the original with the utmost precision,” which I am going to boldly interpret as a ductile polypropylene cap and a clear polystyrene barrel. If so, may I suggest resisting the urge to nibble on the cap and or the end plug, or attempting the biggest pen-spinning act of your life.
The BIC LAMP, as it is officially called, has a compact footprint, measuring 16.5 cm by 13 cm with a height of 178 cm, or approximately 6.5 inches by 5.12 inches with an overall height of about 70.08 inches. It operates on a 220–240 V power supply at 50 Hz and uses a T8 LED light source rated at 22 W, delivering 2,400 lumens of warm white light at 3000 K. A 3 m (10 ft) power cable provides flexibility in placement, making the lamp suitable for both residential and commercial interiors where a tall, slim lighting profile is preferred.
Now for the exciting part of this news. The oversized BIC pen-shaped lamp by Seletti is a thing money can buy. It is set to launch in a few months for €299 (about US$351), and will be available in three iconic colors: blue, black, and red.
Now, here’s the thing. The website currently shows that the pen lamp is “sold out.” I am not sure if that is the default status for items that are not available yet, or if it really is sold out. However, the product page also says it is “launching for the first time in a few months” and invites interested folks to sign up for notifications when it becomes available. TBH, I don’t know what gives. But hey, it’s better be safe than sorry, and so probably just signed up and see what happens.
Images: Seletti [IT].
Story via Instagram (@complexstyle).
