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Yasha Heifetz Pair Sculptural Walnut Table Lamps, ca late 1940s / early 50s

About the Item

This is a fabulous pair of biomorphic sculpted walnut table lamps with milk glass shades attributed to Yasha Heifetz for The Heifetz Company of New York. The lamps were likely designed in the late 40s but were popular through the mid 1950s. These would make the perfect for other biomorphic furnishings such as those by Vladimir Kagan, etc. Dimensions: Height to top of socket is 21", width is approximately 7 1/4", depth is approximately 5 1/2". The lamps have been rewired and feature the original ceramic sockets. The brass retains the original patina. Milk glass shades are new. There are some small scratches and nicks to the finish as expected in an item of this age with usual wear. When Marcel Breuer designed and furnished a house for an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, he intentionally left out lamps. In an interview in November of 1949, he said that he could not find a well-designed modern lamp.. and that, anyway, lamps were unnecessary. "The light is more important than the lamp," he said. In February of 1950, lamp designer Yasha Heifetz (not to be confused with Jascha Heifetz, the violinist) countered that built-in lighting was "flat and static," and he set out to prove the value of a good lamp. With MoMA, in 1950 he co-sponsored a national lamp design contest, hoping to change the opinions of Breuer and other modernist purists about domestic lighting. Over 600 competitors entered, submitting almost 3,000 designs. Heifetz, Breuer, the museum's director René d’Harnoncourt, the museum's director of the department of architecture and design Philip Johnson, lighting designer Richard Kelly and others acted as jurors. Some of the competitors were Richard Schultz from Knoll, as well as Frank Greenhaus and Kevin Roche, both of whom worked for Eero Saarinen, along with Alexey Brodovitch, art director for Harper's Bazaar. Fifteen winners were announced in 1951, and Heifetz immediately began producing ten of the winning designs. Breuer was won over and started ordering lamps for his clients. The modern lamp had gained legitimacy. The Heifetz Manufacturing Company of New York started in 1938. Their primary product was table lamps, but they also made ashtrays, wood and metal sculptural items and some furniture. Over the twenty-five years that Heifetz was in business, he estimated that the company produced approximately 4,000 pieces and that he designed about half of them, the most popular of which had abstract bases made of ceramic, wood or metal. Some depicted the stylized human form, while others depicted animals or were kidney and melon-shaped. Credit - mid2mod.

Attributed to:

Yasha Heifetz (Designer)Heifetz (Maker)

Dimensions:

Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Width: 7.25 in (18.42 cm)Depth: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)

Sold As:

Set of 2

Power Source:

Plug-in

Voltage:

110-150v

Lampshade:

Included

Style:

Organic Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Brass,Milk Glass,Plastic,Walnut,Carved

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

Mid-20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

circa 1950s

Condition:

Reupholstered. Replacements made: New glass milk shades were found to replace missing shades. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. The lamps have been rewired and feature the original ceramic sockets. The brass retains the original patina. There are some small scratches and nicks to the finish as expected in an item of this age with usual wear.

Seller Location:

Cathedral City, CA

Reference Number:

Seller: OC 76371stDibs: LU8352236518312

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