Desk With Lamp
2010s Swiss Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ceramic, Glass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal, Pewter
2010s Austrian Art Deco Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1930s Austrian Art Deco Table Lamps
Brass
2010s European Art Deco Table Lamps
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Table Lamps
Brass, Aluminum
2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
20th Century American Post-Modern Table Lamps
Aluminum
Vintage 1910s American Arts and Crafts Table Lamps
Iron, Brass
Vintage 1910s American Arts and Crafts Table Lamps
Iron, Brass
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Gold, Brass, Nickel
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1950s Table Lamps
Metal, Bronze
20th Century American Space Age Table Lamps
Brass, Chrome
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Marble, Nickel
Vintage 1940s English Table Lamps
Bronze, Metal
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Metal, Silver Leaf
Vintage 1920s American Edwardian Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Aluminum, Brass
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Industrial Table Lamps
Metal, Steel
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1920s French Bauhaus Table Lamps
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Marble, Steel
Early 20th Century Dutch Table Lamps
Chrome
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Steel, Chrome
Antique 1850s European Bauhaus Table Lamps
Bakelite
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass, Steel
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1920s Art Nouveau More Desk Accessories
Brass
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal, Brass
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1950s French Table Lamps
Bronze
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Brass, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary British Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Marble
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Aluminum, Brass
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1950s Arts and Crafts Table Lamps
Opaline Glass
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Crystal, Marble, Brass
Vintage 1930s English Industrial Table Lamps
Enamel, Steel
Late 20th Century European Minimalist Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Table Lamps
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Steel
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Plastic
20th Century British Art Deco Table Lamps
Iron
20th Century Space Age Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1970s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal, Aluminum
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Table Lamps
Marble, Tin
Vintage 1970s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal, Aluminum
Vintage 1950s French Table Lamps
Aluminum
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Metal
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Brass, Nickel
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Metal
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Brass
2010s Italian Table Lamps
Brass, Nickel
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Desk With Lamp For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Desk With Lamp?
Finding the Right table-lamps for You
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.
- What is a good desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021A good desk lamp is going to make a substantial difference in any home, office or studio. The ideal desk lamp should provide apt task lighting, be easy to use, and also be aesthetically pleasing. Find a wide range of unique and elegant desk lamps on 1stDibs today.
- What is the best desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021The best desk lamp is a matter of preference — the right fixture can help you work more efficiently while also reducing eye strain. LED desk lamps in the 2700K to 4500K color temperature range often provide a warm and pleasing light under which to work. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and modern desk lamps from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- Who invented the desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2024
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. - What is the best LED desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021There are many types of best LED desk lamps for your home — it's really a matter of preference. On 1stDibs, there are modern, mid-century modern desk lamps and other lighting to choose from.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The desk lamps with the green shade are called banker’s lamps. Banker’s lamps are green because it is believed the color helps to encourage concentration and is mentally soothing. It is also said that green helps with eye strain. You can shop a selection of banker’s lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022British designer George Carwardine designed the Anglepoise desk lamp. Before creating the light fixture, he worked as an engineer designing automobile suspension systems. The first Anglepoise lamps debuted in 1931. You can find a variety of Anglepoise desk lamps on 1stDibs.
- What is a kneehole desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A kneehole desk refers to the type of desk that has a recessed, or “knee hole,” underneath between sets of drawers. The design leaves ample room for your legs when you are in a seated position. Shop a selection of antique kneehole desks on 1stDibs.
- What is a bed desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021A bed desk — or lap desk — is a type of desk that is primarily designed for use in bed or for other similar circumstances. It generally offers a flat work surface with enough room for a laptop, mouse and a notebook.
- What is a peninsula desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A peninsula desk is a two-sided desk, with each side designed with one long drawer. This functional desk makes working with a partner easy. You can shop a collection of peninsula desks from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- What is a hutch on a desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021A hutch is a set of cabinets or shelves placed on top of a desk. Hutches can also be found on counters, drawers, and even cabinets.
- What is a desk tray?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A desk tray is a storage solution used to tidy up desktop work areas. Normally, they are flat rectangular trays with raised sides, and their proportions make them ideal for storing stacked papers. Some trays have more than one tier to separate incoming and outgoing paperwork. You'll find a variety of antique and vintage desk trays on 1stDibs.
- What is a captain's desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A captain’s desk is sometimes referred to as Davenport desk. It is a small desk with an inclined desktop that can be lifted to access large storage space. It has smaller spaces in the form of small drawers and pigeonholes on the sides. This desk owes its name to Captain Josiah Davenport (1771–1836) who was the first to commission the design. Find a collection of antique and vintage desks on 1stDibs today.
- What is a tanker desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021A tanker desk is a type of desk made of a simple rectangular working surface that rests on two pedestals. A tanker desk can also take the form of a large surface that rests on a pair of small cabinets consisting of drawers of multiple sizes. Shop a collection of antique, vintage and contemporary tanker desks from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- What is a writing desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
A writing desk may refer to a desk with a top, often sloping, for writing on or to a portable case with compartments to hold writing materials and a surface for writing.
- What is a waterfall desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023A waterfall desk is a desk that features rounded corners. This term comes from the idea that this stylistic feature makes it seem as if the lines of the desk flow like a waterfall. The waterfall style emerged during the 1930s and 40s. Find a range of waterfall desks on 1stDibs.
- What is an executive desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024An executive desk is a desk often found in the offices of C-suite executives and other professionals. Compared to a standard writing desk, an executive desk is typically larger. Many feature ornate details and/or rare materials, like exotic hardwoods. Although designs vary, most executive desks have a pedestal design with a center space that provides legroom positioned between stacked drawers. Find a diverse assortment of desks on 1stDibs.
- What is a modular desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024A modular desk is one composed of components. Unlike a standard desk that consists of a single piece, a modular desk features pieces that you can mix and match to create your own custom workspace. For example, a maker may offer a variety of desktops, pedestals and storage units, such as filing drawers, open shelves and specialized shelving for computer towers and peripherals. On 1stDibs, shop a large collection of desks.
- What is a Murphy desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021A Murphy desk is a wall-mounted desk that folds out to provide a work surface for a laptop, tablet, documents, and other items. It is a great solution if you have a little space or don't require a full desk every day. Shop a range of antique and vintage Murphy desks on 1stDibs.
- What is a captain’s desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022A captain’s desk is a type of desk that you stand at rather than sit in front of. It usually has an angled desktop and decorative molding. Captain Josiah Davenport commissioned the British furniture maker Gillows of Lancaster to design the first one in the late 18th century. Sometimes, people refer to the furnishing as a Davenport desk in his honor. Shop a variety of captain’s desks on 1stDibs.
- How high should a desk be?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
A person of average height should have a desk that is 28 to 30 inches high.
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Paavo Tynell’s Snowflake Chandelier Warms Up Any Room
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In "Paraciphers," now on view at Emma Scully Gallery in New York, Brittain introduces works that were more than a decade in the making.
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