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.
70s Uten.Silo by Dorothee Maurer-Becker M-Design production in dark brown
By Ingo Maurer, M Design
Located in München, DE
Original Uten.Silo II. Designed by Dorothee Maurer-Becker. For storage in various rooms. Versatile. A beautiful decorative design classic. Original Design-M Munich production from th...
Plastic
Coat Hangers by Ingo Maurer for M Design, 80's
By M Design, Ingo Maurer
Located in Padova, IT
Set of 12 beautiful clothes hangers in refined black lacquered plastic. Originals from the early 80s perfectly reflect the style and signature of their creator. Elegant and soft desi...
Plastic
$51,788
H 26.38 in W 78.75 in D 20.08 in
Ball Cabinet Limited Edition of 2, Designed by Ramón Úbeda for BD Barcelona
By BD Barcelona Design, Ramón Úbeda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ball cabinet limited edition of 2, designed by Ramón Úbeda for BD Barcelona. Container, frontals and shelves veneered in natural stained dark oak. Legs in aluminum with a brass ...
Oak
$38,841
H 26.38 in W 78.75 in D 19.69 in
Helix Cabinet Limited Edition of 3, Designed by Ramón Úbeda for BD Barcelona
By BD Barcelona Design, Ramón Úbeda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Helix cabinet limited edition of 3, designed by Ramón Úbeda for BD Barcelona, Barcelona. Container, frontals and shelves veneered in natural stained dark oak. Legs in aluminum with a brass coat. Accessories in polished varnished brass. Dimensions 200 x 50 x H 67 cm. REmix project Vol.1 & Vol.2. REcuperate, REuse and REinterpret. BD is joining the prefixed RE conscientiousness - with a project that is without any complex inspired in our grandmother’s kitchen. Cooking with leftovers is something as old as necessary and nevertheless creative. In our recipe book exist memorable dishes that are prepared with hard bread from the previous day, and chicken leftovers from Sunday’s roast. Leftovers that are wisely reused and reinterpreted. For example, the canelón or cannelloni that can be transformed into a kitchen masterpiece. Company warehouses in the design sector also accumulate leftovers. Generally, these are loose pieces or components of furniture parts that have been forgotten about and put in a drawer, because there was once an excess in fabrication or have been discontinued. It’s a considerable amount of stock that has no way out and that grows with time until it becomes a problem. It loses all its value but continues taking up space and ends up being legally certified (mandatory) to be destroyed. BD has accumulated outdated materials as well, but before considering destroying it we thought we could give it a second chance. Amongst the materials, there are the door handles and knobs designed by Cristian Cirici, which had a lot of success during the eighties of the past century, but stopped being sold when the company changed direction to focus on other markets. In our actual catalogue, there are no door handles or knobs, but we have unique pieces; so why not convert these leftovers into design and art pieces? We offer a limited edition until stocks last. This project has been named REmix, since it has something of a mix, like disco music that was fashionable at the same time the original pieces were designed. To complete it we have had the help and participation of different authors. REmix Vol.1 is a limited set of candle holders...
Oak
$4,800
H 44.89 in W 33.08 in D 17.33 in
Midcentury Commode in Rosewood by Svend Langkilde, 1960s Danish Design
By Langkilde Møbler, Svend Langkilde
Located in Lejre, DK
Elegant commode in rosewood designed by Svend Langkilde M.A.A., made in Denmark. Great original condition.
Rosewood
$6,878
H 62.21 in W 55.12 in D 16.54 in
Rare Belgium Mid-century Design highboard by Alfred Hendrickx for Belform 1958
By Alfred Hendrickx, Belform
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Alfred Hendrickx’s design vision is evident in every detail of this highboard designed & produced in 1958. Its sleek lines, minimalist form, and functional elegance make it a standou...
Glass, Wood
$10,407 / set
H 92.52 in W 70.87 in D 17.72 in
Radical Design Kubirolo Cabinets by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy, 1960s
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Milan, IT
Scarce set of 7 Kubirolo modular shelving system by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova. The elements can be positioned in several ways, from full horizontal to vertical, creating differe...
Plastic, Wood
$10,431
H 19.69 in W 27.56 in D 11.82 in
Wall mounted cocktail cabinet designed by Svend Langkilde for Langkilde Møbler
By Langkilde Møbler, Svend Langkilde
Located in Stockholm, SE
This wall-mounted cocktail cabinet was designed by Svend Langkilde and produced by Langkilde Møbler in Denmark during the 1950s. Constructed in rosewood, the cabinet is defined by th...
Brass
$1,674
H 55.91 in W 37.6 in D 18.9 in
Highboard by Mangiarotti for Molteni 4d Mid-Century Modern Design Italy 1964
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Molteni & C
Located in Palermo, IT
Cabinet by Angelo Mangiarotti for Molteni, Italy 1960s Freestanding cabinet in mahogany by the Italian architect Angelo Mangiarotti, produced by Molteni in the 1960s. Equipped with 4...
Carrara Marble
Cabinet 'Model 522' Designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Stockholm, SE
This cabinet, model 522, designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, stands among the most expressive examples of Swedish modern design. The rectilinear mahogany case is entirely clad ...
Mahogany
$3,289
H 46.46 in W 29.53 in D 17.72 in
Iconic vintage dutch design CU07 Cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Meulebeke, BE
The Netherlands / CU07 cabinet / Pastoe / Cees Braakman / metal, teak / Vintage / Mid-century Highboard CU07 designed by the Dutch designer Cees Braakman in 1958 for Pastoe. This mo...
Metal
Milo Baughman Designed Sideboard for Directional
By Milo Baughman, Directional
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern sideboard with bi-fold doors, matte black base, and matching black exposed hinges. Designed for Directional by Milo Baughman, and manufactured by Johnson Furniture...
Walnut
$2,243
H 35.83 in W 37.8 in D 16.93 in
Antique Korean Bandaji Wedding Chest In Dark Wood & Brass By Joseon Dynasty
Located in Lejre, DK
Antique Korean Bandaji chest/dresser from the 1900s, traditionally used as a wedding chest. Made of dark wood with decorative brass fittings, which highlight the craftsmanship and th...
Brass
$2,660Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.14 in W 51.19 in D 19.69 in
David Lange 70s Black Sideboard Commode, Lacquered, Signed
By David Lange
Located in Valladolid, ES
Stunning mid-century black chest of drawers or cabinet from the David Lange house. Since 1969 this company has been a benchmark in design furniture, specia...
Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 3.15 in W 26.78 in D 20.48 in
Uten.Silo II in Black by Design M Ingo Maurer Dorothee Becker Design, 1970s
By Ingo Maurer, Design M, Dorothee Maurer-Becker
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Iconic M Design Uten.Silo II designed by Dorothee Becker in the distinctive glossy black variant. This particular version of Uten.Silo II was produced by M Design, which was Ingo Ma...
Plastic
Sold
H 10.04 in W 16.54 in D 0.2 in
6 Original Unused 70s Yellow Plastic Hangers by Ingo Maurer for Design M
By Ingo Maurer, Design M
Located in München, DE
6 Original unused 1970s yellow plastic hangers by Ingo Maurer for Design M. In the typical 1970s pop art color yellow. Still in the original plastic w...
Plastic
Sold
H 25.5 in W 42 in D 0.5 in
6 original unused green plastic clothes hangers from the 1970s by Ingo Maurer
By Ingo Maurer, Design M
Located in München, DE
6 original unused green plastic cloth hangers from the 70s by Ingo Maurer for Design M. In the typical 1970s Pop Art color green. Still in the original plastic wrap. Only unpacked for taking photos...
Plastic
Sold
H 10.04 in W 16.54 in D 0.2 in
6 unused 1970s yellow and green plastic hangers by Ingo Maurer for Design M
By Ingo Maurer, Design M
Located in München, DE
6 original unused 1970s 3 yellow and 3 green plastic hangers by Ingo Maurer for Design M. In the typical 70s Pop Art colors yellow and green. Still in t...
Plastic
Sold
H 27 in W 20.5 in D 2.5 in
Dorothee Becker Uten.Silo Wall-All Wall Organizer, Western-Germany, 1970s
By Ingo Maurer, Dorothee Maurer-Becker, Design M
Located in Vienna, AT
A brown ABS plastic "Utensilo“ wall all organizer from the 1970s. Designed in 1969 by Dorothee Maurer-Becker, executed Design M, Ingo Maurer, Munich, Western Germany. With a variety of little pockets, containers, metal hooks holders, designed as a functional storage solution to efficiently organize a kitchen, workshop, bathroom or office. Signed on the bottom front. In very good condition, with a few fine...
Plastic