German designer Ingo Maurer (1932–2019) was known as a “poet of light” for how he artfully created table lamps and floor lamps that married form and function, from bulbs that soared on goose-feather wings to chandeliers that suspended bursts of shattered tableware like a slow-motion explosion.
One of Maurer's first lamps, a 1966 design that was merely called Bulb, nested a lightbulb inside a larger glass lightbulb shape, drawing on his connection to German art traditions of reductive forms as well as Pop art and the playful aesthetics of 1960s pop culture. The success of Bulb — its fans included American design icon Charles Eames — led to the founding of his own company to produce this provocative fixture as well as other fantastic lighting designs. Later, for Maurer’s bestselling Uchiwa lamps of the 1970s, the designer found inspiration in Japanese fans made of bamboo and lacquered rice paper.
Born on the island of Reichenau in Lake Constance in southern Germany, Maurer apprenticed at a newspaper before moving to the United States in 1960. In New York and California, Maurer initially worked as a graphic designer for IBM and elsewhere before returning to Germany with his then-wife, designer Dorothee Becker, in 1963. The experience that Maurer gained in typography and bold forms was regularly expressed in the lamps crafted by his company, which was called Design M before the name was changed to Ingo Maurer GmbH. The lighting manufacturer is still based in Munich.
Some of Maurer’s pieces were minimal, such as a ceramic table lamp in 1996 he called Broken Egg, which radiated light from a fissure in an oblong shape, while others were monumental, such as the designer’s last completed installation — a colossal chandelier composed of over 3,000 silver-plated leaves — in Munich’s Residenztheater. Maurer was always at the forefront of lighting innovations, exploring holograms, LEDs and OLEDs in his projects. Through his company, the venturesome Maurer also promoted inventive new designers, including Moritz Waldemeyer, whose My New Flame (2012) imagined a futuristic candle with LEDs.
Ingo Maurer GmbH continues to produce the late designer’s distinctive table lamps, chandeliers and other fixtures, including the imaginative Bulb that started it all.
Find vintage Ingo Maurer Uchiwa lamps and other lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Candlestick by Ingo Maurer for Val St. Lambert
By Ingo Maurer, Val Saint Lambert
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This glass candle holder was designed in the 1960s by Ingo Maurer. The piece was fabricated by the Belgian factory Val Saint Lambert, a crystals- and glass factory established in 18...
Glass
Belgian Crystal Candlesticks Holders Val Saint Lambert, Pair
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of Belgian crystal candlestick holders from luxury maker Val Saint Lambert, Belgium. Pair have a hexagon base (a nice alternative to round) and measure 9.63" Height. Markers' acid mark on bottom "Val Saint Lambert" as shown in last image. Dimensions: 5" base x 9.63" Height. Very Good condition as shown in images. No chips noted. Belgian VSL crystal...
Crystal
$180Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 3.5 in W 2 in D 2 in
Crystal Stylized Penguin Sculpture by Val St. Lambert Crystal Factory
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in San Diego, CA
Petite faceted clear glass penguin produced exclusively for Danbury Mint by Val St. Lambert crystal factory. The set is in excellent condition and have a ...
Cut Glass
Val Saint Lambert Belgian Crystal Candlesticks, Pair
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of crystal candlesticks By Val St. Lambert (signed at the base) Belgium, Late 20th Century Measures: 4.25"W x 4.25"D x 9.38"H. Very good original vintage condition.
Crystal
$790Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.03 in W 9.06 in D 9.06 in
Large Vintage Val St. Lambert Crystal Vase Cranberry
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in Oirlo, LI
Large Vintage Val St. Lambert crystal vase cranberry A beautiful pink Val Saint Lambert vase. This is a beautiful large heavy glass vase. The vase ...
Blown Glass
$899
H 11.25 in W 8.5 in D 8 in
Val St. Lambert Mid-Century Large Clear & Submerged Cranberry Crystal Candelabra
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large and substantial three arm candelabra was made by the renowned Val Saint Lambert factory of Belgium in approximately 1950 in the period Mid-Century Modern style. This candl...
Crystal
Monumental Art Deco Val St. Lambert Cobalt Vase
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1920s, by Val St Lambert, Belgium. This spectacular Art Deco vase is masterfully cut in a sleek fluted motif. The pure cobalt blue color is iconic of Val St. Lambert. The time ...
Art Glass
Val St Lambert Crystal Candelabras, One of Four
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in Antwerp, BE
Four of hand blown, clear cut crystal candlesticks with purple and red colored to the centre by Val Saint Lambert, a prestigious Belgium glassware producer established in 1826. Three...
Crystal
Belgian Val Saint Lambert Crystal Candlestick Holder
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Belgian crystal candlestick holder from luxury maker Val Saint Lambert, Belgium. Candlestick holder has a hexagon base (a nice alternative to round) and Measure 9.63" Hei...
Crystal
Val St. Lambert Art Glass Vase
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare and large vase by Val St. Lambert in art glass. The acid coloring make this a very contemporary looking piece. Val-Saint-Lambert is a very renowned Belgian maker of high end cr...
Glass, Art Glass
$140Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.5 in W 1.5 in D 3 in
Small Crystal Whale Sculpture / Paperweight by Val St. Lambert for Danbury Mint
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in San Diego, CA
Small crystal whale sculpture / paperweight by Val St. Lambert for Danbury Mint, circa 1990s. The piece is in very good condition with no chips or cracks ...
Crystal
Val St. Lambert Crystal Candle Sticks for Tiffany and Co.
Located in Austin, TX
This pair of Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks was designed for Tiffany and Co. They date to the 1950s, and are in impeccable shape! pictured here with smaller stout candles, they...
Crystal
Vintage Val St. Lambert Blue Cut to Clear Glass Candlestick
By Val Saint Lambert
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine blue cut-to-clear glass candlestick. By Val Saint Lambert. With a blue cased glass over a clear base, rows of deep cuts to the candle cup and pedestal, and panel cuts to...
Glass, Art Glass, Cut Glass