Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Style Lamp
About the Item
- Creator:Robert Sonneman (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 36.5 in (92.71 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
- Power Source:Plug-in
- Voltage:110-150v
- Lampshade:Included
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. In good vintage condition.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Sonneman Mid-Century Modern Desk LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in New York, NYRobert Sonneman Mid-Century Modern articulated desktop table lamp with white enamled spherical shade upon a white-painted wooden base. Measures : 18.8" H...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lanterns
MaterialsMetal
- Mid-Century Modern Sonneman Style Metal Floor LampLocated in New York, NYMid-Century Modern Sonneman style floor lamp with adjustable white acrylic bowl shade and aluminum standard. Measures: 54.5" H x 16": W x 12" D. Dealer: S138XX.Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsAluminum
- Mid-Century Modern Style Wooden Column Lamps, PairLocated in New York, NYPair of Mid-Century Modern style wooden column lamps, the waisted tapering ebonized columns on antique brass feet above brushed rectangular antiqued brass bases. Set of 2. Dimensi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern Carved Alabaster Lamps in James Mont StyleBy James MontLocated in New York, NYPair of Mid-Century Modern pierced, hourglass form alabaster lamps with carved geometric decoration, on rectangular bases, in style of James Mont. Measures: 30.5" H to finial x 5.75"...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsAlabaster
- Mid-Century Modern Brass table LampLocated in New York, NYMid-Century Modern large brass table lamp in Asian style.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern Blue Glass Table LampLocated in New York, NYMid-Century Modern blue glass table lamp with an iridescent finish, together with a white cloth lampshade. Measures: 28" height x 18.5" diameter.Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsGlass
- Mid Century Modern Sculptural Table - Desk Lamp Style of Robert SonnemanBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Port Jervis, NYFabulous eye ball style lamp in orange with a chrome base and shaft. Eye ball shade is fully adjustable. Chrome is in excellent vintage condition shade has some wear see pics.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
- Mid-Century Robert Sonneman Style Cube Chrome Desk LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Esperance, NYVery nice simple cube chrome desk lamp.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsChrome
- Mid-Century Modern Lucite with Chrome Eyeball Desk Table Lamp Robert SonnemanBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Port Jervis, NYSimple and elegant table desk lamp fully adjustable. Lamp pivots on a Lucite 7 x 7 base, tightens with the use of a chrome thumbscrew. Chrome eyeball shade does the same, totally adj...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsChrome
- Mid-Century Robert Sonneman Three-Light Chrome Table LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Sacramento, CAMid-Century Modern chrome table lamp by Robert Sonneman with three lights and original shade. In excellent condition, with wear typical for age and use. Lamp measures 10" in diame...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsChrome
- Robert Sonneman "Gazing Ball" LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Highland, INA rare and important design by famous lighting designer Robert Sonneman, this wildly innovative table lamp uses one-way mirror and touch-lamp technolog...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsSteel
- Robert Sonneman Table Lamp 1980sBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Čelinac, BARobert Sonneman Table Lamp 1980sCategory
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal