Art Deco pedestal table withblack lacquered base, France 1920s
Located in Meulebeke, BE
The combination of glossy black surfaces and gleaming chrome reflects the machine-age aesthetic that became synonymous with high-style Art Deco interiors.
Metal, Chrome
Antique table lamps became a category of their own once electricity moved light off the wall and onto furniture. The form split quickly: task-driven designs like the Anglepoise on one side, decorative ceramic and glass on the other.
Styles to Know
Base material shapes the light as much as the shade does: ceramic and glass diffuse a softer glow, while brass and metal read more directional. Layer the look with a mid-century modern floor lamp for ambient light, or set a pair on a mid-century modern nightstand for a bedroom.
How to Choose the Right Vintage Table Lamp
Buying individually rather than as a pair allows more flexibility when mixing eras across a room. For those shopping by name rather than by shape, the history of the Anglepoise lamp is worth a read. Each piece comes from a vetted 1stDibs seller, with era, designer and condition detailed, and the 1stDibs Promise stands behind every purchase.
Designer Eva Menz wants the light to "evoke curiosity and a sense of wonder."
Working with resin, a tricky material, has created moments of failure — and enlightenment.
Commissioned for the lakeside villa of a Finnish industrialist, it illuminated visits with dignitaries.
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The 1920s design is a thrilling combination of saturated colors, ancient motifs and modern aesthetics.
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Before founding the Memphis Group, Sottsass bent the rules of lighting design with the wonderfully wavy Cometa.