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Red Stilnovo mod. 8042 Desk Lamp from the 1950s
By Stilnovo
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Adjustable desk lamp mod. 8042 from the 1959 manufactured by Stilnovo, original red painting and
Category
Vintage 1950s Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Chrome
Small Green Vintage Desk Lamp Made in Italy, 1950s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Charming Mid-Century Modern table lamp manufactured by Palma Firenze - Italy
It consists of a
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
French Industrial Mid-Century Desk Table Lamp in Metal and Brass, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Great and rare mid-century and industrial desk / table lamp in white lacquered metal and brass with
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Iron, Metal
French Midcentury Hand Carved Wooden Desk Table Lamp Produced in France 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare midcentury hand carved desk / table lamp in solid stained oak. In good vintage condition with
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Oak
1950s Christian Dell Table Lamp 6787 Desk Lamp by Kaiser Idell, Germany
By Christian Dell, Kaiser Idell
Located in Krefeld, DE
Original black Christian Dell desk lamp model 6787 from the 1950s for Kaiser Idell, Germany. Black
Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Black
Brass Table/Desk Lamp by Valinte, Finland, 1950s
By Valinte Oy, Paavo Tynell
Located in Karis, Nyland
A Mid-20th century table/desk lamp by Valinte Oy, Finland, 1950s.
Brass and black painted metal
Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Italian Mid-Century Brass-Covered Desk Lamp with Green Shade
circa 1950s
Located in London, GB
Italian mid-century desk lamp with green shade (circa 1950s). A classic desk lamp with Art Deco
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Danish Midcentury Bankers Desk Lamp in Brass from E. S. Horn, 1950s
By E. S. Horn
Located in Esbjerg, DK
was manufactured by E. S. Horn in Denmark during the 1950s in a style reminiscent of Vilhelm Lauritzen.
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Sexy French Pivot Table Desk Lamp Style Serge Mouille France 1950s Clamp Light
By Serge Mouille
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Sexy French brass table desk lamp in black after Serge Mouille France 1950s desk Clamp light
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
FRENCH 50
S DESK LAMP
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
1950's French desk lamp with black shade in the style of Mouille and base and brass arm in the
Category
Vintage 1950s French Table Lamps
Mid-Century Stilnovo Desk Lamp, Glass and Brass, Italy, 1950s
By Stilnovo
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Stilnovo Desk Lamp, Glass and Brass, Italy, 1950s
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Glass
Glass Desk Lamp by Karl Wiedmann for WMF Ikora, 1950s Made in Germany
By Karl Wiedmann, WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Glass desk light by Karl Wiedmann.
Producer WMF, Germany,
1950s.
This table lamp was
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Helo Brass Table Lamp XL, Desk Lamp with Adjustable Shade, Germany, 1950s
By Helo Leuchten
Located in Schwerin, MV
Well-preserved Helo table lamp, timeless classic from the 1950s. The contrast between the green
Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
French Industrial Mid-Century Desk Table Lamp in Metal, Iron and Brass, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare French mid century table / desk lamp in metal and brass produced in France during the 1950s
Category
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Christian Dell Table Lamp 6787 Desk Lamp by Kaiser Idell, 1950s, Germany
By Kaiser Idell, Christian Dell
Located in Krefeld, DE
Original green desk lamp model 6787 by Kaiser Idell, Germany. Designed by Christian Dell he worked
Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Industrial Dazor Floating Articulated Desk Lamp
By Dazor
Located in Lafayette, IN
This lamp is a timeless piece of Mid-Century Modern Industrial Design and features the hard-to-find
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Vintage French Desk or Bedside Lamps from Aluminor France, 1950s
By Aluminor
Located in Verviers, BE
Aluminor lamp of the 1950s The lamps are in very good condition never used, as good as new
This
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Adjustable Desk or Table Lamp Model THV-375 by Poul Dinesen, Denmark, 1950s
By Povl Dinesen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Adjustable desk or table lamp model THV-375. Brass and cotton shade.
Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
1950s Italian Telescoping Floor or Desk Lamp by Giuseppe Ostuni for O-Luce
By O-Luce, Giuseppe Ostuni
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An early telescoping floor / desk lamp with a pivoting cone shaped shade on a brass and enameled
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Steel
Desk Lamp by Boris Jean Lacroix for Cité Universitaire, 1950s Made in France
By Jean Boris Lacroix
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Desk or table lamp with a black tubular stem that supports the shade and two diffusers: One in
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Robotic Desk Lamp by Oscar Torlasco, Italy, 1950s
By Oscar Torlasco
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A never before seen robotic Italian 50’s desk lamp, attributed to Oscar Torlasco. The lamp features
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Lightolier Attribution, Table Lamp / Desk Light, Brass, United States, 1950s
By Lightolier, Paavo Tynell
Located in High Point, NC
A brass table lamp, design and production attributed to Lightolier, United States, 1950s.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Vintage Sight Light Space Machine Age 1950s Art Deco Aluminium Desk Table Lamp
By M.G. Wheeler
Located in Wilton, CT
Vintage 1950s Space Age sight light lamp. From the M.G. Wheeler Co. in Greenwich, Ct. Finished in
Category
Vintage 1950s American Space Age Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum
Pair of Desk Lamp by Louis Kalff for Philips, 1950s
By Philips, Louis Kalff
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Midcentury table lamp designed by Louis Kalff for Philips.
The lamp consists of a round cast
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Space Age Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel, Chrome, Iron
Mid Century Desk Lamp Model 1618 by Josef Hurka for Napako Czechoslovakia 1950s
By Napako, Josef Hurka
Located in Lucenec, SK
Vintage table lamp designed by Josef Hurka is in an original condition with only minor signs of use
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Vintage President Desk Lamp Model 6631 by Christian Dell for Kaiser Idell 1950s
By Christian Dell, Kaiser Idell
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Original vintage President table lamp model no. 6631 designed by German Bauhaus artist Christian
Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Jielde Desk Lamp by Jean-Louis Domecq of Metal with Original Green Lacquer 1950s
By Jean-Louis Domencq, Jielde
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Jean-Louis Domecq desk lamp made by Jielde in France is the 1950s
The lamp has 2 arms and is made
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Vintage Italian Table or Desk Lamp, White Color, Chrome, Brass, 1950s
Located in Rome, IT
Italian table or desk lamp, chromed metal, brass, lacquered in shades of white, 1950's
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Midcentury Adjustable White Metal and Brass Desk Lamp, Italy 1950s
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Small adjustable table lamp made from brass and white painted metal in the style of Gino Sarfatti
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Metal
Desk Lamp Designed by Charlotte Perriand for Philips, circa 1950s
By Charlotte Perriand, Philips
Located in Dronten, NL
tubular incandescent light bulb, that was also used by Gerrit Rietveld in his 1920s hanging lamp. The
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
Mid Century "3X" Table Desk Lamp by Isamu Noguchi Produced by Ozeki
Co, 1950s
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki
Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare and iconic mid century "3X" table desk lamp in paper, bamboo and metal by Isamu Noguchi
Category
Vintage 1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Arteluce Articulating Swing Arm Saucer Italian Brass Desk Lamp 1950s MCM Atomic
By Arteluce
Located in Peoria, AZ
ARTELUCE
SAUCER SHADE
ARTICULATING
DESK/TABLE LAMP
EXQUISITE ITALIAN STYLE!
CIRCA 1953
SIMPLY
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Brass and Glass Desk Lamp in the style of Stilnovo - 1950s
By Stilnovo
Located in Brussels, BE
Brass And Glass Desk Lamp in the style of Stilnovo - 1950s
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
1950s Louis Christian Kalff Midcentury Metal Desk Lamp for Philips Netherlands
By Philips, Louis Christiaan Kalff
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Very rare table lamp or desk lamp designed by Louis Kalff for Philips, salmon metal perforated
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Tuomas Desk Lamp by Yki Nummi for Stockmann-Orno, Finland, 1950s
By Yki Nummi
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
Table or desk lamp model "Toumas" designed by Yki Nummi in the late 1950s. This example was
Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
1950s Italian Design Desk Lamp, Red Enamelled Shade, Attributed to Stilnovo
By Stilnovo
Located in London, GB
A 1950s desk / table lamp, red lacquered metal shade, brass structure on black lacquered base
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Italian Midcentury Green Adjustable Clamp Task Desk Lamp Stilnovo Style, 1950s
By Stilnovo
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your pleasure: Mid-Century Modern Stilnovo Style adjustable clamp desk table lamp in green
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Desk Lamp Model PH3½/2 Made In Burnished Brass By Poul Henningsen From 1950s
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Lejre, DK
Poul Henningsen table lamp, model PH 3½/2, from around the 1950s. The lamp is made of bronzed brass
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Opal, Brass
1950s Dutch Timor 69 Desk or Table Lamp designed by Louis Kalff for Philips
By Louis Christiaan Kalff, Phillips, Louis Kalff
Located in London, England
Model, Timor 69, desk or table lamp designed by Louis Kalff for Philips, Netherlands in the 1950s
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Chrome
Aage Holm Sørensen Scandinavian Teak Brass Table or Desk Lamp, 1950s
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Vienna, AT
Desk light by Aage Holm Sørensen, a rare large version Model 4109, Denmark 1950
Elegant 18.9
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Art Deco Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Brass Desk or Table Lamp by Stilnovo, 1950s
By Stilnovo
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Desk lamp of the 1950s attributed to Stilnovo with brass original oxidation.
The centre column is
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
1950s Gold Scumble 2-step Anglepoise Desk Task Lamp 1227 By Herbert Terry
Sons
By Herbert Terry, George Carwardine
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
two-step 1227 Anglepoise desk lamp made by Herbert Terry & Sons, England, has its original scumble
Category
Mid-20th Century British Industrial Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
French Sculptural Wooden Desk Table Lamp in Elm in Style of Alexandre Noll 1950s
By Alexandre Noll
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare and hand made wooden lamp in solid elm in style of Alexandre Noll. Produced in France ca 1950s
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Stilnovo, Desk Lamp, Model "D 4639", Aluminum, Brass, Glass, 1950s, Italy
By Stilnovo
Located in High Point, NC
A table lamp / desk lamp produced by Stilnovo, Italy. Produced in chromium-plated aluminium
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Midcentury Desk Lamp with Black Leather
Located in New York, NY
A single circa 1950's Italian leather-stitched articulating desk lamp with weighted base
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Table Lamps
Materials
Leather
Articulating desk lamp by Jean-Louis Domecq
Located in Dallas, TX
Original 1950's Jielde "signal" articulating desk lamp with oversized base
by Jean-Louis
Category
Vintage 1950s European Table Lamps
Elegant Mid-Century Z Table Lamp or Desk Light by Louis Kalff for Philips 1950s
By Louis Kalff, Philips
Located in Munich, DE
Elegant Mid-Century Modern Z table lamp or desk light. Designed by Louis Kalff for Philips
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
Louis Kalff for Philips Z Decora Desk Lamp Black Metal Brass, 1950s
By Louis Kalff, Philips
Located in Paris, IDF
This beautiful desk lamp, model Z or Decora, was designed by Louis Kalff in the 1950s and edited by
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Louis Kalff for Philips Z Decora Desk Lamp Black Metal Brass, 1950s
By Louis Kalff, Philips
Located in Paris, IDF
This beautiful desk lamp, model Z or Decora, was designed by Louis Kalff in the 1950s and edited by
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Metal Industrial Desk Lamp likely a Kaiser Idell design, Germany 1930s-1950s
By Kaiser Idell
Located in Debrecen, HU
This industrial-style desk lamp features the hallmark design elements of mid-20th century task
Category
Vintage 1940s German Bauhaus Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Desk Lamp H. Th. J. A. Busquet for Hala 1950s No. 135
By Hala Zeist, Herman Theodoor Jan Anthoin Busquet
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Special desk lamp designed by Dutch designer Herman Theodoor Jan Anthoin (H. Th. J. A.) Busquet in
Category
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
Heavy Form 1950s Architects Desk Office Anglepoise Table Lamp by British Admel
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
An original Admel architects desk lamp, featuring a large counterweight design.
Original paint and
Category
Mid-20th Century British Industrial Table Lamps
Materials
Steel, Iron
1950s Vintage Flexible Table, Desk Lamp with Chromed Iron Structure by Torlasco
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
A 1950s vintage desk table lamp wit flexible structure attributed to Torlasco DESIGNER. Chromed
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
1950s Copper, Bronze and Brass Vintage Industrial Steam Gauge Edison Desk Lamp
By Industrial Production
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Steam gauge mounted onto a copper-plated plynth and converted to desk lamp.
The Gauge itself s
Category
Vintage 1950s British Industrial Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Copper, Iron
Italian Desk Light Stilux in Marble and Brass, 1950s
By Stilux
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stilux desk lamp, marble, metal red lacquered, brass, Italy, 1950s.
Stylish desk light with
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass, Metal
1950s, Philips Metal Desk or Table Lamp in Off-White and Black
By Philips
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful desk or table lamp in off-white and black lacquered metal and in very nice condition
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
1950s Bauhaus Brass Table Lamp
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
A 1950s Bahaus vintage desk lamp in pure Bauhaus style. Structure in brass. Beautiful signs of time
Category
Vintage 1950s German Bauhaus Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
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1950s Desk Lamps For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are several options of 1950s desk lamps available for sale. The range of distinct 1950s desk lamps — often made from metal, brass and steel — can elevate any home. 1950s desk lamps have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern and Industrial 1950s desk lamps are consistently popular styles. 1950s desk lamps have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Louis Kalff, Philips and Louis Christiaan Kalff are consistently popular.
How Much are 1950s Desk Lamps?
1950s desk lamps can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $1,437, while the lowest priced sells for $120 and the highest can go for as much as $34,000.
Finding the Right Table-lamps for You
Well-crafted antique and vintage table lamps do more than provide light; the right fixture-and-table combination can add a focal point or creative element to any interior.
Proper table lamps have long been used for lighting our most intimate spaces. Perfect for lighting your nightstand or reading nook, table lamps play an integral role in styling an inviting room. In the years before electricity, lamps used oil. Today, a rewired 19th-century vintage lamp can still provide a touch of elegance for a study.
After industrial milestones such as mass production took hold in the Victorian era, various design movements sought to bring craftsmanship and innovation back to this indispensable household item. Lighting designers affiliated with Art Deco, which originated in the glamorous roaring ’20s, sought to celebrate modern life by fusing modern metals with dark woods and dazzling colors in the fixtures of the era. The geometric shapes and gilded details of vintage Art Deco table lamps provide an air of luxury and sophistication that never goes out of style.
After launching in 1934, Anglepoise lamps soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted the fixture as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.” The popular task light owed to a collaboration between a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine and a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry Sons.
Some mid-century modern table lamps, particularly those created by the likes of Joe Colombo and the legendary lighting artisans at Fontana Arte, bear all the provocative hallmarks associated with Space Age design. Sculptural and versatile, the Louis Poulsen table lamps of that period were revolutionary for their time and still seem innovative today.
If you are looking for something more contemporary, industrial table lamps are demonstrative of a newly chic style that isn’t afraid to pay homage to the past. They look particularly at home in any rustic loft space amid exposed brick and steel beams.
Before you buy a desk lamp or table lamp for your living room, consider your lighting needs. The Snoopy lamp, designed in 1967, or any other “banker’s lamp” (shorthand for the Emeralite desk lamps patented by H.G. McFaddin and Company), provides light at a downward angle that is perfect for writing, while the Fontana table lamp and the beloved Grasshopper lamp by Greta Magnusson-Grossman each yield a soft and even glow. Some table lamps require lampshades to be bought separately.
Whether it’s a classic antique Tiffany table lamp, a Murano glass table lamp or even a bold avant-garde fixture custom-made by a contemporary design firm, the right table lamp can completely transform a room. Find the right one for you on 1stDibs.
Questions About 1950s Desk Lamps
- What is 1950s furniture called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 20241950s furniture is called vintage furniture. Some pieces produced during this period may be considered mid-century modern based on their characteristics. Mid-century modern design refers to the variety of modernism that rose to prominence in the 1940s and ’50s. It displays many of the characteristics of the earlier versions of modernism, including simple forms and a focus on functionality. Other traits common in mid-century modern furniture include unadorned silhouettes, clean lines and mixed materials, emphasizing wood, wool, steel and plastic. On 1stDibs, explore a large collection of 1950s furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes. While the gem has always been a mainstay in jewelry, there was a boom in demand for pearl pieces in the 1950s. The style at the time was black-and-white-chic, and pearls were an excellent accompaniment to pieces like the classic little black dress. Shop a collection of expertly vetted pearl jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 30, 2023Some popular watches for men during the 1950s were the Rolex Submariner, the Enicar Sherpa Dive, the Breitling Navitimer, Omega, Constellation and the Rolex GMT-Master. Rolex, Timex, Orvin, Tower and Elgin were among the top watchmakers for women during the decade. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique, vintage and contemporary watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024The clothing style in the 1950s was well tailored and classic. For women, dresses with padded busts, cinched waists and hips, and full circle skirts were popular, and the collared button-up shirt dress came into fashion during the decade. Men tended to wear suits in neutral gray, dark blue and brown colors made out of easy-to-care-for synthetic fabrics. Straight-cut double-breasted blazers were commonly worn for casual occasions. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of vintage clothing from the 1950s.
- What is a good desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021A good desk lamp is going to make a substantial difference in any home, office or studio. The ideal desk lamp should provide apt task lighting, be easy to use, and also be aesthetically pleasing. Find a wide range of unique and elegant desk lamps on 1stDibs today.
- What is the best desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021The best desk lamp is a matter of preference — the right fixture can help you work more efficiently while also reducing eye strain. LED desk lamps in the 2700K to 4500K color temperature range often provide a warm and pleasing light under which to work. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and modern desk lamps from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- Who invented the desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2024
No one knows for sure who invented the desk lamp, as many engineers worked on designs for lamps during the 1920s. Many experts cite the Anglepoise lamp, however, as the earliest iteration of the modern desk lamp. Since its 1934 debut, this ingenious task light has become one of the most celebrated examples of industrial design.
How the Anglepoise came to be is the stuff of design legend: In 1932, a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine joined forces with a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry Sons, to create a mechanism by which opposed springs would, as Carwardine explained, exert a “unidirectional constant force” on a pivoted lever that could counteract the force of gravity.
This invention was not destined for an auto but for a lamp Carwardine was developing. The innovation would allow the piece’s articulated arm to be moved with ease to almost any position and remain there. As the product of engineering acumen rather than fashion, the Anglepoise soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted it as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.”
The Angelpoise's rivals include the 1930 Bestlite, which was one of the earliest Bauhaus-influenced designs, created by Robert Dudley Best, who had studied under Walter Gropius at the Bauhaus in Dessau. German modernist Karl Trabert’s 1930s desk lamp for Schanzenbach Co. was notable for its domed shade above a hinged arm.
Find vintage table lamps and other lighting on 1stDibs. - 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023In the 1950s, several diamond cuts were popular. They included the brilliant round cut, the Asscher cut, the emerald cut and the marquise cut. Rings that featured a large central stone flanked by smaller baguettes were also trendy during the decade. Find a collection of vintage diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 27, 2023In the 1950s, a Chanel bag was priced between $200 and $300. The iconic Chanel 2.55 bag cost $220 when first introduced in February 1955. Accounting for inflation, that works out to around $2,536 in today's money. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Chanel bags from some of the world's top boutiques.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 6, 2023There were a few popular diamond cuts in the 1950s. One was the brilliant round cut, which is still common today due to its simple shape and prominent sparkle. Other favorite cuts of the decade included the Asscher cut, the emerald cut and the marquise cut. On 1stDibs, explore a large selection of engagement rings.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024The best-known 1950s furniture style is called mid-century modern. Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three phrases that describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style emerged primarily in the years following World War II through creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Mid-century modern designers combined natural and human-made materials, such as teak, rosewood and oak woods as well as steel, fiberglass and molded plywood. Some well-known mid-century modern designers include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of mid-century modern furniture.
- What is the best LED desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021There are many types of best LED desk lamps for your home — it's really a matter of preference. On 1stDibs, there are modern, mid-century modern desk lamps and other lighting to choose from.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022British designer George Carwardine designed the Anglepoise desk lamp. Before creating the light fixture, he worked as an engineer designing automobile suspension systems. The first Anglepoise lamps debuted in 1931. You can find a variety of Anglepoise desk lamps on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The desk lamps with the green shade are called banker’s lamps. Banker’s lamps are green because it is believed the color helps to encourage concentration and is mentally soothing. It is also said that green helps with eye strain. You can shop a selection of banker’s lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Which artist became famous for his series of black paintings in the late 1950s and early 1960s?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJanuary 27, 2025Frank Stella is the artist who became famous for his series of black paintings in the late 1950s and early 1960s. These works featured bands of black paint separated by thin, precise stripes of bare canvas. At a time when contemporary painting was all about wild gestures, thick paint and formal abandon, the “Black Paintings” created a sensation. Explore a range of Frank Stella art on 1stDibs.
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The 1920s design is a thrilling combination of saturated colors, ancient motifs and modern aesthetics.
Hans Bergström’s Monumental Chandeliers Are Made for Grand Spaces
Designed by a giant of Swedish lighting, the large-scale fixtures bring major drama.
This Paavo Tynell Chandelier Is a Radiant Bouquet
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Ettore Sottsass Captures a Shooting Star in This Rare 1970s Floor Lamp
Before founding the Memphis Group, Sottsass bent the rules of lighting design with the wonderfully wavy Cometa.
You Don’t Need a Fictional Fairy to Get This Real Pinocchio Lamp
Warm chalet style meets cool Bauhaus functionality in Pietro Cascella’s cleverly carved creation.
Why Is Italy Such a Hotbed of Cool Design?
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
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