Cute, characterful and spritely, dachshunds were originally bred in Germany to flush badgers, foxes, ferrets and rabbits from cover and later used to track wounded game, particularly wild boar and deer. Their short but speedy legs and elongated silhouettes suited them perfectly to squeezing into burrows and through dense undergrowth. Clever, tenacious and natty to a fault, the little canines have long been hunters’ trusty companions, alerting them to what’s lurking ahead.
This charming mid-century dog-shaped table lamp by Jean Boris Lacroix for famous French lighting firm Disderot captures the adorable breed in an alert pose, stretching forward as though ready to spring into action. The distinctive spotlight head casts its beam forward, reestablishing the dachshund as a guiding light, both literally metaphorically, in an irresistibly whimsical marriage of function and form.
French architect and designer Jean Boris Lacroix was a key figure in the Art Deco and postwar modernist movements. He was famed for his sleek, pared-back furniture and, in particular, his lamps, which exemplify his minimalist approach to form, often composed of smooth tubular shapes and strict geometric lines rendered in steel, brass and glass for an industrial aesthetic with a distinctly futuristic slant.
This lamp predates Sony’s AIBO robot dog by nearly five decades, its playful space-age appearance belying its era. According to Yannick Jongejan, manager of Mass Modern Design gallery in the Netherlands, which is offering the prized pup on 1stDibs, the dachshund lamp — believed to be Lacroix’s only zoomorphic design — is a master class in clean visual balance.
“What strikes us about the dog light is the simplicity in terms of materiality,” Jongejan says, referring to himself and Mass Modern Design founder Etienne Feijns. “It’s always inspiring to see what some designers can achieve with limited materials. Just with a couple of bends and cut-outs, Jean Boris Lacroix has created such an instantly recognizable dog figure. The streamlined lines, little tail and rubber paws are details that stand out to us. All in all, it’s just such a fun little lamp, which brightens up the room even when turned off.”
Interestingly, Lacroix, who is not related to the fashion designer Christian Lacroix, began his creative career at the celebrated couture house Vionnet, where he was artistic director from 1924 to 1937 overseeing fashion, accessories, furniture and fragrance. This elegant and imaginative milieu may well have helped cultivated his eye for playful design. And let’s not forget Madeleine Vionnet’s fondness for houndstooth wool, a fitting association for a designer who would go on to create such a compelling little hound.
But this dog boasts more than good looks. He’s a low-maintenance source of delight, at once reassuring and mood enhancing. When switched on, he casts a warm glow, with a more powerful beam shining from his muzzle. “We also love that we don’t have to walk this dog now that winter is approaching,” says Jongejan.
