Robert Sonneman Floor Lamp
About the Item
- Creator:Robert Sonneman (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 64.5 in (163.83 cm)Diameter: 13 in (33.02 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Rewired: Rewired and ready to use. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Very good condition. Various scratches, small dings, rubs, and wear, commensurate with age and use. Rewired and ready to use.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU871828222422
Robert Sonneman
Though Robert Sonneman was quite literally born into the lighting business, it took working for another celebrated lighting maker for him to land upon the kind of boundary-pushing modernism for which the New York–based designer is known today.
At the age of 19, fresh off a stint in the U.S. Navy, Sonneman responded to an ad for a position working in the studio of George Kovacs on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where he became the sole employee. “Although my parents were in the lighting business, they came from a traditional perspective, and Kovacs introduced me to modernism,” Sonneman once said. “It was 1961, and I was immediately captured by the movement.”
While working for Kovacs, Sonneman became captivated by the work of the Bauhaus, and he began experimenting with the influential art and design school’s ideas of functional simplicity in lighting. In 1967, he opened his own studio.
Though Sonneman Design Group produced furniture for a brief time, the designer eventually elected to focus on the one category that had always fascinated him; the brand became known for its floor lamps, sconces, pendants and chandeliers that feature unconventional treatments toward shape and balance, often inspired by modern architecture. Sonneman once said of his work: “I saw the lamps that I built as lighting machines that glorified the industrial aesthetic.”
Indeed, in the spirit of Bauhaus functionality — Sonneman has also cited Mies van der Rohe as being an inspiration — the designer’s work takes function-centric forms and motifs and elevates them while prioritizing technology. This spirit of forward thinking continues today, as Sonneman’s brand, renamed SONNEMAN – A Way of Light in 2003, works with LED bulbs to continue to push the boundaries of what functional lighting can achieve aesthetically.
Current-day releases by SONNEMAN – A Way of Light (still overseen by Sonneman himself) feature 95 percent LED lights and include interior and exterior lighting as well as modular suspended lights as an alternative to track lighting. Sonneman’s vintage pieces, however, are still widely collected on the secondary market.
Find vintage Robert Sonneman lighting on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Atlanta, GA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Selection of Brass Floor LampsBy Maison BaguèsLocated in Atlanta, GASelection of Mid Century Brass Floor Lamps. They retain their wonderful original patina. All are rewired and ready to use. They are priced at $1800 each. From left to right, as seen ...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass, Metal
- Selection of Modern Floor LampsLocated in Atlanta, GASelection of modern floor lamps. From left to right as seen in the first photo, they are: 1) Sculptural floor lamp, designed by Hans Agne Jakobsson for Haj Markaryd...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Sculptural Giacometti Style Bronze Floor LampBy Diego GiacomettiLocated in Atlanta, GASculptural bronze floor lamp, in the style of Diego Giacometti, French, circa 1970s. We are unsure if this is constructed of bronze, or a bronze finished metal with a verdigris patin...Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Bronze
- T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings Style Floor LampsBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Atlanta, GASelection of Modern floor lamps, in the manner of T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings, American, circa 2000s. The lamp on the left is circa 2000's and measures 62"H x 17"W. The lamp on the right ...Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Sculptural Italian Marble Ball Floor LampLocated in Atlanta, GASculptural Italian marble ball floor lamp, Italy, circa 1980s. Very heavy and well made. Rewired and ready to use. The price noted includes the lamp sh...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMarble, Metal, Brass
- Japanese Bronze Cloisonne Floor LampLocated in Atlanta, GAJapanese bronze cloisonne floor lamp, probably, circa 1930s. Beautiful patina to the bronze and intricate cloisonne work throughout. It has been r...Category
Vintage 1930s Japanese Floor Lamps
MaterialsBronze, Enamel, Metal
- Robert Sonneman Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Palm Springs, CASonneman chrome plated steel floor lamp. Lamp measures 18" wide, 18" deep and 65" high. Base is 10" diameter. We had the shade professionally relined. Shade measures 12" wide, 12" de...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
- Robert Sonneman Orbiter Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in San Mateo, CAAdjustable floor lamp designed by Robert Sonneman. The arc portion rotates 360 degrees. The straight arm adjusts the shade up and down as well as side to side. This makes an excellen...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsIron
- Robert Sonneman Eyeball Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in San Diego, CARobert Sonneman eyeball floor lamp circa 1960s, USA. The lamp features a chrome sphere shade on a pivoting arm that can be adjusted to mult...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Robert Sonneman Counter Balance Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Sheffield, MAMid-century 1970s vintage counter balance arm adjustable floor lamp by Robert Sonneman. This classic modern floor lamp is a result of the long-time rel...Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Robert Sonneman Chrome Triennale Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Winnipeg, MBBeautiful adjustable chrome floor lamp designed by Robert Sonneman. This piece features three counterbalance arms with pivoting cylindrical shades that allow for a range of configura...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Chrome
- Robert Sonneman Post Modern Floor LampBy Robert Sonneman, George KovacsLocated in Miami, FLPost-Modern torchiere uplighter floor lamp rendered in powder coated and painted steel with geometric forms reminiscent of Ettore Sottsass Memphis Milano designs, by Robert Sonneman.Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel