Mid-Century Desk Lamp by Jan Vlug, Belgium
By Jan Vlug
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Desk Lamp by Jan Vlug, Belgium
Vintage 1970s Belgian Table Lamps
Marble
Mid-Century Desk Lamp by Jan Vlug, Belgium
By Jan Vlug
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Desk Lamp by Jan Vlug, Belgium
Marble
Desk Lamp Zickzack Z Lamp by Brilliant Leuchten Belgium
By Brilliant Leuchten AG
Located in Hannover, DE
I present to you a very facinating design of Zig Zag table lamp by Brilliant from the 1980s. This
Aluminum
Vintage Belgian swan-neck desk lamp for Massive Lighting
Located in Amstelveen, NL
Mid-century desk lamp designed in brown and black lacquered metal by massive lighting. Easy
Metal
$1,082
H 19.1 in W 5.71 in D 5.91 in
Art Deco Industrial metal and travertine Desk Lamp, Belgium 1930s
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Belgium / 1930 / Desk Lamp / metal, travertine / Art Deco A striking example of early 20th-century
Travertine, Chrome
Philips Louis Kalff Designed 'Timor' Desk Lamp, circa 1958, Belgium
By Philips, Louis Kalff
Located in Pymble, NSW
A super Louis Kalff designed 'Timor' pattern desk lamp with a straight tapered brass stem and
Metal
$1,124
H 33.47 in W 31.5 in D 5.91 in
Vintage Mid-Century Belgian Modern Minimalist Black Desk Lamp from Massive
By Massive Lighting
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This minimalist desk lamp was produced by the Belgian manufacturer Massive during the 1980s. The
Chrome
$1,322 / item
H 34.26 in W 19.69 in D 8.67 in
Large Articulated Mid-Century Modern Chrome-Plated Desk Lamp - Belgium, 1960s
Located in Girona, Girona
Large articulated chrome-plated desk lamp, granular black painted cast base and black lacquered
Sheet Metal
Mid Century Modern Steel Desk Lamp, Glass Shade, Belgium, 1930s Design
Located in Stamford, CT
Moderne silver painted desk lamp with glass shade.
Metal
$832Sale Price|20% Off
H 21.26 in W 8.27 in D 17.72 in
Premium Extra Large Desk Lamp in Steel, Bakelite and Oakwood, 1950s Belgium
Located in Voorburg, NL
Beautiful desk lamp produced in Belgium in the 1950s. The lamp is standing on a firm oakwood base
Stainless Steel
Philips Louis Kalff Designed 'Timor' Desk Lamp, circa 1958, Belgium
By Philips, Louis Kalff
Located in Pymble, NSW
A good 'Timor' model Louis Kalff desk lamp with a pierced edge shade in dark grey and with a chrome
Metal
Brown Belgian Gooseneck Desk Light by Erpé, Mid-20th Century
By Erpé
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Brown Belgian goose neck desk light by Erpe Belgium flexible arm with metal shade. Brown cast iron
Iron
$474
H 23.63 in W 4.34 in D 15.75 in
Industrial Black Enamel Cast Iron Table Desk Light from Erpe, Belgium
By Erpé
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Black Belgian machinist desk light by Erpe, Belgium Black enamel shade with Bakelite switch on top
Iron, Enamel
Vintage Mid-Century Desk Lamp
Located in Antwerp, BE
This Mid-Century Modern desk lamp features a red base and shade and a chromed arm. Both the arm
Metal
Art Deco Desk Lamp Notary Lamp Erpe Model 52 Enamel Shade Green
By Erpé
Located in Poperinge, BE
Iconic art deco desk lamp, also called notary lamp or banker's lamp, made by the Belgian company
Enamel, Iron, Wrought Iron
Vintage Adjustable Desk/Side Table Lamp by Massive, 1970s
By Massive Lighting
Located in Verviers, BE
Classic compact design, this adjustable spotlight desk lamp was produced by Massive in the 1970s
Metal, Chrome
$541
H 17.33 in W 10.24 in D 9.85 in
Art Deco Desk Lamp Notary Lamp Erpe Model 52 Wrought Iron Green Enamel Shade
By Erpé
Located in Poperinge, BE
Art deco desk lamp, also called notary lamp or banker's lamp, made by the Belgian company Erpé
Enamel, Iron, Wrought Iron
Desk lamp mid modern century attributed to Armand Jonckers
By Armand Jonckers
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Very uncommon table or desk lamp in copper with a sandstone. Very good quality of fabrication and
Copper
Vintage Red Adjustable Desk/Side Table Lamp by Massive, 1970s
By Massive Lighting
Located in Verviers, BE
Classic compact design, this adjustable spotlight desk lamp was produced by Massive in the 1970s
Metal, Chrome
$3,655Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.93 in W 51.19 in D 18.51 in
Oak and Bronze Desk with A Sanded Glass Lamp from Maison Chaumet, France 2000
Located in Brussels, BE
Elegant bronze and oak table-desk with his sanded glass lamp (Artemide) included on the top
Bronze
Zig Zag desk lamp by Shui L.D.Chan for Massive, 1980s
By Massive Lighting
Located in Delft, NL
Zig Zag desk lamp by Shui L.D.Chan for Massive, 1980s
Plastic
$2,500
H 22 in W 30 in D 6 in
Italian Midcentury Brass Articulating and Counter-Balance Desk Lamp, Arredoluce
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and Dramatic Italian Mid-Century Modern style desk or table lamp in the style of Angelo
Belgian Black Marble, Brass, Metal
$2,846 / set
H 42.52 in W 13.39 in D 5.91 in
Pair of Large Cast Bronze Chinese Figurine Desk Lamps James Mont attr.
By James Mont
Located in Torquay, GB
Stunning pair of large cast bronze lamps in the manner of James Mont. Made in Belgium circa 1960s
Brass, Bronze
$756
H 21.66 in Dm 15.75 in
Midcentury Dutch Philips Timor 69 Grey Table Desk Lamp by Louis Kalff 1960s UFO
By Louis Kalff, Philips
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Belgian Post Office. This large desk lamp is an impressive 55cm in height (inc bulb), has a round iron
Steel, Chrome, Iron
$462
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in D 9.85 in
Petrol Green Enamel Vintage Industrial Banker Light Table Desk Light by Erpe
By Erpé
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Belgian petrol green enamel desk light by Erpe, Belgique 2,5 meter black cotton flex, plug and
Enamel, Iron
RIJO Industrial Style Belgium Midcentury Desk Lamp
By Fog & Mørup
Located in Copenhagen, DK
MARQUE RIJO industrial style midcentury desk lamp. Free shipping! The design is kind of the same
Metal
Vintage Desk Light by Erpe, Belgium, 1930s
By Erpé
Located in Ulft, Gelderland
Cool vintage desk light by the Belgium company Erpe. Made in Belgium during the 1930s remains in
Metal
A Robust Modernist Desk Lamp
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
A robust industrial Bordeaux red desk lamp with a fluorescent light. The lamp has a solid, heavy
Chrome, Iron
Vintage Desk Lamp with a Sculptural Presence
Located in Central, HK
Vintage desk lamp with a sculptural presence. The metal shade has a brass color top, neck band and
Vintage Desk Lights
Located in Ulft, Gelderland
Vintage yellow desk light. Made in Germany during the 1960s. These lights remain in good condition
Metal
Unavailable
H 19.69 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Timor 69or Major Desk Lamp Grey / Gray / Silver by Louis Kalff for Philips
By Louis Kalff
Located in Hemiksem, VAN
Belgian Post Office. This desk lamp has a round iron base with a built-in switch and a silver chrome rod
Steel, Chrome
Vintage ERPE Belgian Desk Lamp
By Erpé
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This vintage desk lamp was made and manufactured in Belgium. Model ERPE, the lamp is made from cast
Iron
1930s Enamel Desk Lamp by Erpe Belgium
By Erpé
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Art Deco era notary or bankers desk lamp. The lamp has a cast iron and cord base with a green
Iron
Vintage 1980s Counterbalance Desk Lamp by Massive, Belgium
By Massive Lighting
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Vintage 1980s Counterbalance Desk Lamp by Massive, Belgium – Industrial & Postmodern Design This
Chrome
Mid Century Erpe Desk Lamp Belgium Vintage Industrial
Located in Lincoln, GB
Superb original 1930's desk lamp marked Erpe to the enamel shade. Belgium, 1930's.
Enamel, Steel, Iron
Louis Christiaan Kalff Desk Lamp for Philips, Belgium, 1955
By Louis Christiaan Kalff, Philips
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice iconic table or desk lamp designed by Louis Christiaan Kalff for Philips, Belgium, 1955
Metal, Brass
Midcentury Modern Gold Structure Brass Desk Lamp. Belgium, 1940
Located in Madrid, ES
Desk lamp with structure and base in brass. Height and direction adjustable. 545.
Brass
Art Deco Desk Lamp "52" Made by Erpe Belgium
By Erpé
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Art Deco desk lamp with adjustable black enamel shade and cast iron base. Bakelite lampshade
Iron
Sold
H 18.51 in W 9.45 in D 11.03 in
Art Deco desk lamp also called (notary lamp) made by Erpe Belgium.
By Erpé
Located in Oirlo, LI
Art Deco desk lamp also called (notary lamp) made by Erpe Belgium. Art Deco notary desk lamp with
Metal
1950´s Desk Lamp, wood pieces, polished brass rings - Belgium
Located in Girona, Girona
Desk lamp, stand with wood pieces alternated with polished brass rings, brass lampshade. Belgium
Brass
Maarten van Severen Desk Lamp BA11 U-Line, Belgium, 1997
By U-Line, Maarten van Severen
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
-Line, Belgium, 1997. This desk lamp is from the first production by U-Line, now it’s produced by
Aluminum
1950s Desk Lamp with Wood and Brass Rings, Brass Lampshade, Belgium
Located in Girona, Girona
Desk lamp, stand with wood pieces alternated with polished brass rings, brass lampshade with
Brass
Belgian Art Deco Shell Brass Goose Neck Desk Table Lamp
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Belgian Art Deco Brass goose neck desk light. Flexible brass goose neck arm with brass base and
Brass, Iron, Nickel
Sold
H 18.12 in W 10.24 in D 8.67 in
Vintage Industrial Antique Belgian Astax Metal Bankers Desk Table Lamp. c.1950
Located in London, GB
A simply formed green painted desk lamp made in Belgium by Astax. c.1950 Manufactured from steel
Metal
Sold
H 13.78 in W 19.69 in D 7.49 in
Elegant Mid-Century Belgian Modern Gold Brass Desk Lamp from Massive, 1970s
By Massive Lighting
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This elegant, gold desk lamp was produced by the Belgian manufacturer Massive during the 1970s. The
Metal
Sold
H 22.25 in W 14 in D 5.25 in
20th Century Grey Belgian Pair of Lead Table Lamps, Vintage Desk Lights
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late, grey vintage Industrial style Belgian pair of table lamps with a new white oval shade, made
Metal, Lead
Sold
H 19.49 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
1970s Belgium Belgo Chrom Attributed Grey Mirror & Brass Table or Desk Lamp
By belgochrom, Belgo Chrome
Located in London, England
1970s Belgium table or desk lamp attributed to Belgo Chrom. The lamp is constructed from grey
Brass
Belgian Art Deco Shell Brass Goose Neck Desk Table Lamp
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Belgian Art Deco Brass goose neck desk light. Flexible brass goose neck arm with brass base and
Brass, Iron, Nickel
Belgian Art Deco Brass Cast Iron Table Desk Light
By Erpé
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Belgian goose neck desk light by Erpe Belgium flexible arm with brass shade. Cast iron base. Black
Iron, Brass
Belgian Green Cast Iron Vintage Industrial Table Desk Light
By Erpé
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Green Belgian goose neck desk light by Erpe Belgium Flexible Gooseneck arm with metal shade. Green
Iron
A desk lamp
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
.
Brass
Sold
H 18.51 in W 9.06 in D 11.82 in
Belgium Black Bakelite Vintage Industrial Table Desk Light by Erpe
By Erpé
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Belgian black Bakelite desk light by Erpe 2,5 meter black cotton flex, plug and switch in base
Iron
Louis Kalff Z Lamp Philips Belgium, 1955
By Philips, Louis Christiaan Kalff
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
, Belgium 1955. This atomic desk lamp has a solid brass base with black lacquered weighted metal end. And it
Aluminum, Brass
1940s RIJO Desk Lamp
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This great architect desk lamp is made in the 1940s. It is pure: The black powder coated shade and
1970s Minimal Desk Lamp
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This minimal desk lamp is a design of the 1970s. It is a great and nice detailed lamp made of
Stainless Steel
Unique Industrial Desk Lamp
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This old Industrial desk lamp is unique with its unusual internally mirrored shade in white and
Metal
Sold
H 14.97 in W 9.06 in D 11.03 in
Belgium Petrol Green Enamel Vintage Industrial Work Light Table Desk Light
By Erpé
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Belgian petrol green enamel desk light by Erpe 2.5 meter black cotton flex, plug and switch in
Enamel, Iron
Hans Kogl Palm Tree Desk Lamp
By Hans Kögl
Located in Hastings, GB
Hans Kögl palm desk lamp Hans Kögl, Belgium, circa 1970s Gilt metal palm tree desk lamp with
Metal
Sold
H 35.44 in W 6.7 in D 7.88 in
Gray Enamel Belgian Vintage Industrial Metal Flexible Arm Desk Work Lights (3x)
Located in Amsterdam, NL
. Weight: 2.00 kg / 4.4 lb Priced per individual item. All lamps have been made suitable by international
Metal, Enamel
Louis Kalff Desk Lamp for Phillips
By Louis Kalff
Located in San Francisco, CA
Iconic design from Louis Kalff for Phillips Model NX110, Belgium 1950s. Very good original
Black Industrial Desk Lamp 1930's
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Industrial black table lamp in metal. In a good condition with great patina.
Metal
Bauhaus Desk Lamp Notary Lamp Erpe Model 52 Green Enamel
By Erpé
Located in Poperinge, BE
Iconic adjustable art deco desk lamp, also called notary lamp or banker's lamp, made by the Belgian
Enamel, Iron, Wrought Iron
Stitched Leather and Brass Desk Lamp, circa 1970
Located in Culver City, CA
Stitched leather and brass desk lamp, made in Belgium circa 1970. Square-formed, stitched
Brass
Factory Office Desk Lamp by Erpe, circa 1930s
By Erpé
Located in Gloucester, GB
Factory office desk lamp by Erpe, circa 1930s - Worldwide shipping - All prices inc VAT - Cast
Factory Office Desk Lamp by Erpe, circa 1930s
By Erpé
Located in Gloucester, GB
Factory office desk lamp by Erpe, circa 1930s - All prices inc VAT - Cast steel base
Steel
Art Deco Desk Lamp Notary Lamp Erpe Model 52 Bauhaus Green Enamel
By Erpé
Located in Poperinge, BE
Iconic Art Deco or Bauhaus desk lamp, also called notary lamp or banker's lamp, made by the Belgian
Enamel, Iron, Wrought Iron
Art Deco Factory Desk Lamp by Erpe, circa 1920s
By Erpé
Located in Gloucester, GB
Model 52 Art Deco factory desk lamp by Erpe, circa 1920s. Product code #OA472 - Black
Green and Yellow Desk Lamp by Jos Devriendt
Located in New York, NY
Jos Devriendt Night and Day 92, 2015 Glazed ceramic Measures: 16.54 H x 15.75 x 15.75 inches Unique artwork. This piece sustained damage in handling and has been restored. Inquire f...
Ceramic
Aluminium U- Line Desk Lamp by Maarten Van Severen for Light
By Maarten van Severen
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This U-Line desk lamp is designed by Maarten Van Severen in 1997 and produced by Light in Belgium
Aluminum
Desk Lamp by Jean Paul Edmonds ALT for Philips, 1970s
By Philips
Located in bruxelles, BE
Orange colored glass lamp. Wear due to time and age of the lamp.
Glass
Sold
H 23.63 in W 9.85 in D 6.7 in
1970s Brass & Marble Articulated Desk Lamp // Italian Angle-poise Reading Light
By Hillebrand
Located in Torquay, GB
Vintage 1970s angle-poise desk lamp. Articulated and sleek reading light, made of brass and set on
Belgian Black Marble, Brass
Signed Willy Daro Nickel Silver over Bronze Desk or Table Lamp
By Willy Daro
Located in North Miami, FL
This heavy and amazing signed Willy Daro nickel silver over bronze table or desk lamp is timeless
Bronze, Nickel
Vintage Brass Table Lamps or Desk, Set of 2 Midcentury, 1960s
By Scailmont
Located in Verviers, BE
Set of 2 brass table or desk lamp, made in Belgium in the late 1960s. The lamp has got an E14
Brass
Sold
H 20.48 in W 6.3 in D 9.85 in
Metal Brass Mercury Glass Vintage Industrial Cast Iron Table Desk Light
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Metal mercury glass medical desk light. Metal adjustable arm with metal shade. cast iron base
Metal, Brass, Iron
Vintage Belgian ERPE Desk Lamp
By Erpé
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This vintage desk lamp was made and manufactured in Belgium. Model ERPE, the lamp is made from cast
Enamel, Iron
Mid-Century Belgian Adjustable Table / Desk Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegant, versatile table or desk lamp featuring both an adjustable dual-column stem and oversized
Metal
Vintage Industrial Adjustable Desk Lamp, Belgian, Mid-20th Century
By Philips
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Amazing design desk lamp. Makers mark of Philips, Belgium. Painted metal and Bakelite. The
Metal
Maarten van Severen desk lamp BA11 U-Line Belgium 1997
By Maarten van Severen, U-Line
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
-Line, Belgium 1997. This desk lamp is from the first production by U-Line, now its produced by Wästberg
Aluminum
Belgian Secessionist Desk Lamp with Dark Green Shade, circa 1900
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Late 1890s articulating European iron desk lamp. Featuring an adjustable dark green enameled shade
Iron, Metal
Impressive Bauhaus Desk Lamp
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This large desk lamp can be dated in the 1930s and is made in the Bauhaus style. Both the shade
Metal
Vintage Grey Desk Lamp, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Very charming desk lamp in light grey. Tested and ready to use. Very good condition
Metal, Chrome
Louis Kalff Desk Lamp for Phillips
By Louis Kalff
Located in San Francisco, CA
Louis Kalff designed desk lamp for Phillips, Belgium, 1955. Solid brass body with black lacquer
$2,052 / item
H 40 in W 30 in D 0.03 in
"Vigne Fleurie" Signed Limited Edition Art Print by Christiane Lemieux - 30"x40"
Located in New York, NY
"Vigne Fleurie" is an exquisite limited edition fine art print that offers a modernist interpretation of a flowering vine set against a lush green colorfield. Each print is a view of...
Paper
$2,052 / item
H 40 in W 30 in D 0.03 in
"Les Terrains" Signed Limited Edition Art Print by Christiane Lemieux - 30"x40"
Located in New York, NY
Our first limited edition fine art print “Les Terrains” is an emotive abstract landscape translated in gouache, charcoal and pastel. Created by artist Christiane Lemieux, there will ...
Paper
$3,090
H 48.25 in W 64.5 in D 87 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Exotic Wood Queen Bed Style Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, mid-century modern sculptural Italian custom queen bed with exotic wood. Attributed in style to Osvaldo Borsani, Made in Italy , circa the 1960s. Sculptural ...
Walnut, Wood
$3,680Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 31 in W 134 in D 111 in
Modular Contemporary Outdoor Wicker Sofa Lounger with Integrated Daybed
By Nina Edwards Anker
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This modular L-shaped outdoor sofa integrates a daybed in its sloped geometry. The waterproof lounger is lightweight and easy to move around the garden. Its sloped forms encourage in...
Rattan
$37,500
H 29.34 in W 177.17 in D 137.8 in
Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstätte Castell Sectional Sofa in Cognac Leather
By Wiener Werkstätte, Hans Hopfer
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstätte 'Castell' modular sofa, leather, Austria, design 1972 Stunning and sizable modular sofa designed by Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstätte. This grand ...
Leather
Unavailable|$78,000
H 12.41 in W 51.38 in D 51.38 in
Custom Jean Claude Dresse Coffee Table in Granite
By Jean Claude Dresse
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jean Claude Dresse coffee table, lacquered steel, granite, resin, Belgium, 1970s A striking round table designed by the hand of Belgian artist Jean Claude Dresse, dating back to the...
Granite
Bacco Coffee Table by Sergio Mazza, Artemide
By Sergio Mazza, Artemide
Located in Neuss, NW
BACCO coffee table by Sergio Mazza for Artemide from the 1970s. High-quality plastic frame in black with a removable glass table top and chrome castors. Quality Features: very good...
Chrome
$19,239
H 29.14 in W 47.25 in D 78.75 in
Dining Table from the Executive Line by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti Synthesis
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Melbourne, VIC
In 1968, the architect and designer Ettore Sottsass was charged with designing a new series of furniture for the Olivetti Company that would accommodate the shifting nature of work f...
Marble, Metal
$296Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.42 in W 7.88 in D 4.73 in
K & M Hagberg Green & Blue Model "LÖV" Wall / Table Lamp, for IKEA, 2003
By K and M Hagberg
Located in London, GB
For sale is this wonderful Model "LÖV" (or 'Love') Wall / Table Lamp, designed by the prolific Swedish sibling duo, Marianne and Knut Hagberg, for Ikea in 2003. This unusual lamp ...
Wire
$721
H 3.94 in W 4.34 in D 3.75 in
Scandinavian Modern Vase "Diamond" by Asta Strömberg for Strömbergshyttan, 1960s
By Asta Stromberg, Strombergshyttan
Located in Örebro, SE
Scandinavian Modern vase "Diamond" by Asta Strömberg for Strömbergshyttan, 1960s. Labeled and engraved on the bottom. Good vintage condition, tiny dent most probably from the product...
Glass
$13,491 / item
H 13.39 in W 46.86 in D 42.13 in
Organic Three-Leaf Black Plaster Coffee Table by Pietro Franceschini
By Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Trinity coffee table by Pietro Franceschini. Dimensions: W 119 x L 107 x H 34 cm. Materials: Plaster. Pietro Franceschini is an architect and designer based in New York and Flor...
Plaster
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.
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.
Commissioned for the lakeside villa of a Finnish industrialist, it illuminated visits with dignitaries.
Across New York, there’s no shortage of statement lighting on view.
The 1920s design is a thrilling combination of saturated colors, ancient motifs and modern aesthetics.
Designed by a giant of Swedish lighting, the large-scale fixtures bring major drama.
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Before founding the Memphis Group, Sottsass bent the rules of lighting design with the wonderfully wavy Cometa.
Warm chalet style meets cool Bauhaus functionality in Pietro Cascella’s cleverly carved creation.
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.