Memphis Desk Lamp
Vintage Italian Memphis Era Desk Lamp in White Perforated Metal, Orientable Arm
By Memphis Group
Located in Milano, IT
This is a cool little desk lamp, dating back to the early Eighties and crafted in white and black
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
$430 Sale Price
20% Off
H 13.39 in W 4.34 in D 12.6 in
Post Modern Desk Lamp, 1980s
By Memphis Milano
Located in Den Haag, NL
Typical 80s square shaped desk lamp, White plastic on a black metal base.
Tubular lighting good
Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Plastic
1980
s Postmodern Memphis era Table desk Lamp
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool enameled metal desk table lamp great condition circa 1980's a classic postmodern design
Category
20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
80s Pop Art Desk Lamp in the Postmodern Memphis Style
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
80s Pop Art desk lamp in the postmodern Memphis Style 80s 90s
Postmodern desk lamp that can be
Category
20th Century Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Desk Lamps in the manner of Memphis Milano, Set of 2
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant set of two extremely rare Postmodern metal Table Arc Lamps. Exceptional functionality
Category
1990s German Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome, Metal
$3,400 Sale Price / set
20% Off
H 16.93 in Dm 11.03 in
1980s BE-YANG Memphis Style Postmodern Table / Desk Lamp in Black and Teal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a 1980s vintage BE YANG desk and table lamp in teal and black. The lamp was
Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
$1,500
H 23.5 in W 6 in D 6 in
Set of 2 Belgian Table Lamps from Massive - Memphis Pop Art, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
A few rare Memphis Style bedside lamps or desk lights from the Belgian manufacturer Massive. Form
Category
20th Century Table Lamps
Materials
Abalone
Vintage Metal Table Lamp - Adjustable Desk Lamp, Italy, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage metal table lamp - Adjustable desk lamp - Postmodern Memphis Style - Italy 1980s
Now free
Category
20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Post Modern Saturn Desk Lamp by Sonneman circa 1980
s
By Sonneman Lighting
Located in New York, NY
Postmodern Memphis style desk / table lamp by Sonneman circa 1980's. The lamp features an oval
Category
Early 20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Marble, Metal
rabbit Tanaka corp Mempis Style Halogen floor lamp 1980s Japan
By Tanaka Kosai
Located in Den Haag, NL
century atomic design Table lamp Rabbit Tanaka desk lamp Halogen Memphis Style. Black color .
Category
Vintage 1980s Japanese Post-Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Plastic
Postmodern Halogen Table Lamp Style of Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Postmodern - Desk lamp - Memphis Designer Light
Measures : 43x12cm H:38cm
Materials : Glass
Category
20th Century Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
$622
H 14.97 in W 16.93 in D 4.73 in
Recent Sales
Italian Memphis Style Desk Lamp, 1980s
By Memphis Group
Located in MIJDRECHT, NL
This desk lamp is made in the famous Memphis style. The Italian Memphis Group was a design and
Category
Antique 1890s Italian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Vintage Italian Memphis Era Desk Lamp in White Perforated Metal, Orientable Arm
By Memphis Group
Located in Milan, IT
This is a cool little desk lamp, dating back to the early Eighties and crafted in white and black
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
H 13.39 in W 4.34 in D 12.6 in
Memphis Style Desk Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1980s Memphis style desk lamp.
Category
20th Century Table Lamps
Counter Balance Architect Desk Lamp, 1980s
Located in MIJDRECHT, NL
Black metal Architect desk lamp with counterweight and red details, reminiscent of the Memphis
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Minimalist Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Mid-Century Italian Murano glass deco inspired 80
s Demilune Glass Table Lamp
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Mid-Century Murano glass, Memphis style, art deco inspired desk lamp. Featuring a beautiful half
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
H 19.69 in W 15.75 in D 3.94 in
Stilplast Memphis Desk Lamp 1980s Red, Green, Yellow, Blue
Located in Hastings, GB
Rare Memphis style halogen desk lamp
By Italian brand Stilplast, 1980s
An explosion of primary
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Memphis Era Multidirectional Small Desk or Table Eye Lamp
By Memphis Group
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and unique multidirectional desk table lamp, the eyeball moves any way you want to
Category
20th Century Hong Kong Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Plastic
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Memphis Style Post Modern Bankers Desk Lamp
By George Kovacs, Memphis Group, Robert Sonneman, Memphis Milano
Located in Decatur, GA
Rare bankers lamp form, Post Modern - Memphis Milano style, desk lamp designed by Robert Sonneman
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
H 16 in W 13.5 in D 6.5 in
Colorful Memphis Style Desk Lamp by Tensor
By Tensor
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A modern, well-crafted, Memphis-style interpretation of a bankers desk lamp by Tensor features
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Memphis Era Multidirectional Desk Table Lamp
By Ron Rezek
Located in San Diego, CA
Colorful and beautiful desk lamp freshly rewired and refinished desk table lamp, enameled metal
Category
Late 20th Century North American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Memphis Era Neon Tube Lamp by Aaron Neon, 1980s
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern Memphis Milano style desk or table lamp with two blue and red neon tubes and a white top
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Glass, Plastic, Wood
Postmodern Be Yang Table Desk Lamp by Kovacs Memphis Era
By George Kovacs
Located in San Diego, CA
Postmodern Memphis era look table amp, in metal and wood lacquer finish. working condition.
Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Be Yang Table Desk Lamp by Kovacs Memphis Era
By George Kovacs
Located in San Diego, CA
Postmodern Memphis era look table amp, in metal and wood lacquer finish. working condition.
Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Memphis-Style
UFO
Adjustable Halogen Table Desk Lamp w/ Oak Base, c. 1980s
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a splendid Post Modern / Memphis-styled adjustable desk or table lamp with perfect 1980
Category
Vintage 1980s Taiwanese Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Rare Postmodern Memphis Era Desk Lamp in Chrome Enamel Metal and Glass
By Robert Sonneman
Located in San Diego, CA
**Unique 1980s Desk/Table Lamp with Memphis Postmodern Flair**
Discover a truly unique desk/table
Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Italian Red Postmodern Gooseneck Adjustable Table Desk or Task Lamps
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Miami, FL
Unique pair of adjustable goose neck table desk or task lamps rendered in Red metal and plastic
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
H 17 in W 4.25 in D 9 in
Ettore Sottsass "Pausania" table /desk lamp, for Artemide, Label
By Artemide, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great design in this lamp, recorded in many books and catalog information.Label
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Memphis Group Table Lamps
Materials
Stainless Steel
1980
s IKEA Desk / Table Lamp B719
By IKEA
Located in Bern, CH
Rare 1980's Memphis style IKEA desk / table lamp model No. B719. Plastic light shade with light
Category
Vintage 1980s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Robert Sonneman Lamp for George Kovacs
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in London, GB
Memphis modernist Art Deco styled desk lamp - designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs. 1980s
Category
Late 20th Century American Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Wilton, CT
Iconic Memphis inspired Desk/Table halogen lamp designed by Robert Sonneman. All original with
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Rare 1980s Sottsass Style, Memphis Desk Lamp, Italy
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Hastings, GB
Rare Italian Sottsass style Memphis desk lamp, 1980s
Superb Memphis styling, colors and design
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Articulating Desk or Task lamp
By Memphis Milano, Memphis Group
Located in Miami, FL
Desk or task lamp with an articulating arm and weight system rendered in white steel, 1980s.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
Memphis style 1980s Metal Desk Lamp
By Hala Zeist
Located in Den Haag, NL
Curious Memphis style metal desk lamp featuring a typical 1980s style shade/armature assembly
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Petite Memphis Era Italian Desk Lamp
By Vico Magistretti
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice Italian small desk table lamp circa 1980s, the lampshade moves up and down and rotates 360
Category
20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Plastic
Rare Postmodern Double Headed Memphis Style Desk Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare, postmodern, black cast metal, double-headed, desk lamp circa 1980s in the manner of Memphis
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Post Modern Green and Black Table Desk or Task Arc Lamp, USA, 1980s
By Memphis Group
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern desk task or table arc lamp rendered in a black metal base and a black metal arch stem
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Memphis Era Table/Desk Lamp by Robert Sonneman
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in San Diego, CA
1987 designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs table desk lamp, with dimmer switch freshly
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Postmodern Memphis Era Table/Desk Lamp by Robert Sonneman
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in San Diego, CA
1987 Designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs table desk lamp, with dimmer switch freshly
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Postmodern Italian Ettore Sottsass Table or Desk Lamp for Stilnovo Memphis
By Ettore Sottsass, Stilnovo
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fun and playful Postmodern design by Ettore Sottsass for Stilnovo lamp company. Fully working in
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
H 17.5 in W 6 in D 12.75 in
Postmodern Italian Ettore Sottsass Table or Desk Lamp for Stilnovo Memphis
By Ettore Sottsass, Stilnovo
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fun and playful Postmodern design by Ettore Sottsass for Stilnovo lamp company. Fully working in
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
H 17.5 in W 6 in D 12.75 in
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Memphis Style Desk Table Bankers Lamp C. 1990
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in New York, NY
Rare bankers lamp form, Post Modern, Memphis School, desk lamp designed by Robert Sonneman for
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
H 16 in W 13.5 in D 6.5 in
Pair of Italian 1990s Memphis Style Black Metal Bedside Wall or Desk Lamps
By Veneta Lumi
Located in Melbourne, AU
These super fun lamps can be configured in a multitude of ways.
Labeled 'Made in Italy', they
Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
H 17.72 in W 5.91 in D 9.85 in
Pair of Italian 1990s Memphis Style Small White Metal Bedside Wall or Desk Lamps
By Veneta Lumi
Located in Melbourne, AU
These super fun desk or bedside lamps can be configured in a multitude of ways. See images for just
Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
H 17.72 in W 5.91 in D 9.85 in
Robert Sonneman Memphis Lamp for George Kovacs
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in Miami, FL
Memphis inspired desk or table lamp by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, 1980s.
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Memphis Clock Lamp Projector Timebeam by Design
By Timebeam
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Memphis.
1987.
Category
Vintage 1980s English Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Memphis Desk Lamp by Martine Bedin
Located in SouthPort, CT
Articulated desk lamp by Martine Bedin, Memphis, for Megalit (Artemide).
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Memphis Style Desk Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Memphis Style Desk Lamp
Category
Late 20th Century American Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Italian Desk Lamp - Memphis Style
Located in Bridport, CT
Modern desk lamp, made in Italy.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Memphis School Desk Lamp - Lamperti
Located in Bridport, CT
Desk lamp in black, cream and red lacquered metal, glass, Lamperti, Italy.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Table Lamps
Materials
Glass
Memphis, Post Modernist Desk Lamp for Brilliant
Located in Princeton Junction, NJ
A beautiful, playful Post-Modern Desk Lamp made by Brilliant.
Great condition.
Category
Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
George J. Sowden Memphis "Electronic Age" Table Desk Lamp
By George Sowden
Located in Denver, CO
A finely crafted table or desk lamp from the "Electronic Age" series of Postmodern Memphis objects
Category
Vintage 1980s Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum
A Memphis
Don
Desk Lamp designed by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Macclesfield, Cheshire
A Memphis ''Don'' Desk Lamp designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1977 for Stilnovo.
Applied label
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Table Lamps
Materials
Wood, Laminate, Plastic
MEMPHIS DESK LAMP, metal in Red, yellow and black
By Memphis Group
Located in LA Arnhem, NL
MEMPHIS DESK LAMP. This is a Memphis style desk lamp. The form makes you happy. Nice detail on top
Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Memphis Style Desk Lamp, 1980s
Located in MIJDRECHT, NL
Dutch Design Memphis Group style desk lamp, 1980s
Memphis Group style typically combines circles
Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Minimalist Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Memphis Milano Oceanic desk lamp by Michele de Lucchi for Artemide, Italy
By Michele de Lucchi, Artimide
Located in RHEEZERVEEN, Overijssel
The Oceanic lamp is a very good example of Memphis design in its first year, when a group of young
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
H 29.53 in W 23.63 in D 7.88 in
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Michele de Lucchi, ‘First Chair’, Memphis Milano, Italy, 1985
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in New York, NY
Designed in 1983 by Michele de Lucchi, the ‘First Chair’ is a landmark piece in the Memphis Milano collection as the only original Memphis design to be mass-produced, with an estimat...
Category
Vintage 1980s Corner Chairs
Materials
Metal
First Chair by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis Milano, 1983
By Michele de Lucchi, Memphis Milano
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Designed in 1983 by Michele de Lucchi, the ‘First Chair’ is a landmark piece in the Memphis Milano collection as the only original Memphis design to be mass-produced, with an estimat...
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Pair of Murano Glass Shell Wall Sconces
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Pair of pretty Murano glass wall sconces shaped like sea shell.
The Murano glass is smooth on the outside while having a rough inner texture, it also has golden speckles allowing...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
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Memphis Period Clock by Nicolai Canetti
By Canetti
Located in Dallas, TX
Memphis period clock designed by Nicolai Canetti, 1980s. This is new old stock that's in the original box. Excellent working condition.
Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Clocks
Materials
Metal
Tomato Ceramic Serving Platter, by Michele De Lucchi from Memphis Milano
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi, Memphis Group
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Tomato Serving platter was originally designed in 1985 by Michele De Lucchi in ceramic, for Memphis Milano. Here we are offering this item by Memphis Group themselves.
Michele De L...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Platters and Serveware
Materials
Ceramic
$585 / item
H 2.37 in W 13.78 in D 11.03 in
1980
s Geometric Wall Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A striking postmodern, Memphis-inspired wall clock by Small World Greetings. White vinyl face with inset black triangle, light gray shadow, red hands, and red circle and "12" at 12 o...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Wall Clocks
Materials
Plastic
Post Modern 1980
s Laminated Turquoise Waterfall Console Table by Jeffrey Craig
By Karl Springer
Located in Toronto, CA
This 1980s turquoise laminated waterfall console table is a striking example of postmodern design by Jeffrey Craig, a distinguished Canadian designer known for his craftsmanship and ...
Category
Vintage 1980s Canadian Post-Modern Console Tables
Materials
Laminate, Wood
$1,840
H 29 in W 48 in D 14 in
Fujimori Mug Set for Kato Kogei Ceramics Post-Modern Alpha 3 Memphis Japan 1980s
By Kato Kogei, Fujimori
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Founded during the Meiji era as a glass-making company in Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Kato made a name for itself by manufacturing cutting-edge designs, of which post-modern service is a prime...
Category
Vintage 1980s Japanese Post-Modern Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
$175
H 4.5 in Dm 3.75 in
Memphis Postmodern Side Table by Peter Shire for Saporiti, 1980s
By Saporiti, Peter Shire
Located in Brussel, BE
Rare Memphis Postmodern side table made of black, blue and beige enameled steel base with a disc of glass table top and a chromed tidy. Designed by Peter Shire for the Italian brand ...
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Side Tables
Materials
Steel, Chrome
1990s Ikea Krokig Modular Coat Rack Annie Huldén
Sanna Dahl Postmodern Memphis
By IKEA
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage Ikea krokig modular coat rack designed by Annie Huldén & Sanna Dahlman. Coat hanger rack postmodern Memphis style. Ikea Kids or Adults.
Dimensions:...
Category
1990s Post-Modern Coat Racks and Stands
Materials
Steel
$280 Sale Price
20% Off
H 50 in Dm 14 in
Modern Multicolored Vintage Glass Floor Lamp Orbital Terra Foscarini Italy
By Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Vienna, AT
Modern multicolored vintage floor lamp model Orbital Terra by Ferrucchio Laviani, which was designed 1992 for Foscarini, Italy.
The multicolored lamp shades from satined glass with d...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
$3,112
H 67.33 in Dm 18.9 in
1980s Postmodern Memphis Style Wall Clock by Milano Series
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Nailing the iconic energy of the 1980s, this vibrant Memphis style wall clock by Milano Series features bold geometric shapes and bright primary colors and all the playful and irrev...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Wall Clocks
Materials
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Italian post-modern folding tub chair in red wood and beige fabric, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post-modern folding tub chair in red wood and beige fabric, 1980s
Folding cockpit chair with red painted wooden frame. The frame has a round section, and comprises the envelo...
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$598
H 28.35 in W 21.07 in D 21.86 in
Suvretta Bookcase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Radomsko, Województwo łódzkie
“Suvretta” is a Romansh word (language spoken in Engadine) that means: “above the small forest”. Like rows of overlapping trees, the books placed on the green shelves of Suvretta tak...
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Laminate, Wood, Plywood, Scrap Wood
$8,079 Sale Price
25% Off
H 78.75 in W 80.32 in D 13.78 in
1980s Black Postmodern Wall Clock by Chass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a vibrant 1980s touch of class, this 'Chass' Postmodern Wall Clock features a black case and face, pastel numbers, geometric accents, and an asymmetrical hand arrangement. Remin...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Wall Clocks
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1990s Memphis Milano Style Black and White Coffee Set by Taruschio
By Memphis Group
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This Memphis Milano-style Italian ceramic coffee set characterized by its bold, geometric design and avant-garde aesthetic. The coffee set features conical cups with triangular bases...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Tea Sets
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Ceramic
$1,436 / set
H 11.42 in W 5.52 in D 4.73 in
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Memphis Desk Lamp For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the memphis desk lamp you’re looking for. Each memphis desk lamp for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, plastic and glass. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer memphis desk lamp, there are earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A memphis desk lamp is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern and Modern styles are sought with frequency. You’ll likely find more than one memphis desk lamp that is appealing in its simplicity, but Ettore Sottsass, George Kovacs and Robert Sonneman produced versions that are worth a look.
How Much is a Memphis Desk Lamp?
Prices for a memphis desk lamp can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $225 and can go as high as $4,250, while the average can fetch as much as $1,200.
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 Memphis Desk Lamp
- 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. - 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 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.
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This 1950s Paavo Tynell Chandelier Got a Glow-Up
Commissioned for the lakeside villa of a Finnish industrialist, it illuminated visits with dignitaries.
These Designer Light Fixtures Are Total Scene Stealers
Across New York, there’s no shortage of statement lighting on view.
My Father Was Obsessed with This French Art Deco Tiger Lamp
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.