Totem Pelletier

Those familiar with the work of Belgian ceramic artist Georges Pelletier know there is much more to his unique floor lamps and table lamps than meets the eye. From his stately, intricately detailed Totem floor lamp to his sculptural Owl table lamp, Pelletier’s talent for marrying ceramics with a simple light source to create complex shadow play will transform any interior into an illuminated work of art.

Born in Brussels in 1938, Pelletier developed a passion for ceramics in his youth. At merely 15 years old, Pelletier moved to Paris to study at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers (now called Arts et Métiers ParisTech) before he went on to train in ceramics at the Pioulier School in Vence, France. Among his early instructors were ceramist Raphael Giarrusso and artist Fernand Léger. However, it was while working alongside a collective of potters in Accolay, Burgundy — a studio called Accolay Pottery, established by apprentices to well-known ceramicist Alexandre Kostanda — that he was likely inspired to experiment with cutouts and other carving techniques.

In 1961, Pelletier opened his first workshop in Paris, selling his ceramic lamps at the Saint-Ouen flea market. His works caught the eye of furniture design and manufacturing company Roche Bobois for which he created a series of lighting collections from 1961 to 1973.

In later years, Pelletier’s designs attracted the attention of Mathieu Tournaire, son of Philippe Tournaire, the founder of jewelry manufacturer Maison Tournaire. Charmed by Pelletier’s ceramic works and the playful light shows his fixtures would create in a space, Mathieu proposed a collaboration to develop a series of luminaires that would merge Maison Tournaire’s use of precious metals, such as silver and gold, with Pelletier’s distinct ceramics artistry. The partnership yielded a six-piece collection — three “Sun” luminaires, two floor lamps and a totem pole. Only three copies of each work exist.

In 1973, Pelletier opened a new workshop in Cannes, where he continues to work to this day. His ceramic lighting sculptures are coveted by art collectors worldwide.

On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Georges Pelletier lighting, decorative objects and mirrors.

The right table lamp, outwardly sculptural chandelier or understated wall pendant can work wonders for your home. While we’re indebted to thinkers like Thomas Edison for critically important advancements in lighting and electricity, we’re still finding new ways to customize illumination to fit our personal spaces all these years later. A wide range of antique and vintage lighting can be found on 1stDibs.

Today, lighting designers like the self-taught Bec Brittain have used the flexible structure of LEDs to craft glamorous solutions by working with what is typically considered a harsh lighting source. By integrating glass and mirrors, reflection can be used to soften the glow from LEDs and warmly welcome light into any space.

Although contemporary innovators continue to impress, some of the classics can’t be beat. 

Just as gazing at the stars allows you to glimpse the universe’s past, vintage chandeliers like those designed by Gino Sarfatti and J. & L. Lobmeyr, for example, put on a similarly stunning show, each with a rich story to tell.

As dazzling as it is, the Arco lamp, on the other hand, prioritizes functionality — it’s wholly mobile, no drilling required. Designed in 1962 by architect-product designers Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the piece takes the traditional form of a streetlamp and creates an elegant, arching floor fixture for at-home use.

There is no shortage of modernist lighting similarly prized by collectors and casual enthusiasts alike — there are Art Deco table lamps created in a universally appreciated style, the Tripod floor lamp by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Greta Magnusson Grossman's sleek and minimalist Grasshopper lamps and, of course, the wealth of mid-century experimental lighting that emerged from Italian artisans at Arredoluce, FLOS and many more are hallmarks in illumination innovation. 

With decades of design evolution behind it, home lighting is no longer just practical. Crystalline shaping by designers like Gabriel Scott turns every lighting apparatus into a luxury accessory. A new installation doesn’t merely showcase a space; carefully chosen ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps can create a mood, spotlight a favorite piece or highlight your unique personality.

The sparkle that your space has been missing is waiting for you amid the growing collection of antique, vintage and contemporary lighting for sale on 1stDibs.