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.
Established & Sons White Floating Table with Four Black Chairs by Ingo Maurer
By Ingo Maurer, Established & Sons
Located in London, GB
This innovative piece is the first production table from the widely celebrated designer, Ingo Maurer. On first inspection, it appears to be an archetypal wooden kitchen table and chairs...
Wood
Round Dining Table with Aqua Glass Inset and White Lacquer Swirl Base
By The Tailored Home, Jhon Ortiz
Located in Greenwich, CT
This 57" diameter dining table centers a three-leg swirl base in white lacquer beneath a back-painted glass top shown in Jamaican aqua, seating six comfortably for casual dinners or ...
Glass, Maple, Lacquer
White Roman Travertine Dining Table by Le Lampade
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
White Roman travertine bistro table by Le Lampade. Round travertine top supported by a travertine column shaped base. These tables can be custom made.
Travertine
White Roman Travertine Coffee Table by Le Lampade
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
White Roman travertine table by Le Lampade. Measure 18.25'' height x 41''' diameter Round travertine top supported by a travertine column shaped base. These tables can be custom made.
Travertine
$12,880 / item
H 30 in Dm 42 in
Custom Round Corkscrew Center/Dining Table with Ebony by Dos Gallos Studio
By Dos Gallos Studio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom walnut corkscrew centre table with ebony finish. Can be made in custom sizes and finishes in a variety of wood types. Made in Los Angeles by Dos Gallos Studio. CIUTOM PRICES A...
Ebony, Walnut
Shagreen Breakfast Table with Palmwood Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Prague breakfast table by R&Y Augousti is an iconic design of their collection, debuting from the 1990s. This signature has been updated with metal accents on the border of the table and on the 3 legs. This classic center piece can be adapted for an entrance room or custom-sized for a dining room. The circular shaped cream shagreen inlaid top sits on a cluster of geometric inlaid bronze-patina brass legs that clasp into a floating palm wood inlaid ring...
Brass
Shagreen Breakfast Table with Palmwood Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Prague Breakfast table by R&Y Augousti is an iconic design of their collection, debuting from the 1990s. This classic centre piece can be adapted for an entrance room or custom-sized for a dining room. The circular shaped cream shagreen inlaid top sits on a cluster of geometric inlaid shagreen legs that clasp into a floating palmwood inlaid ring...
Palmwood, Shagreen Stingray
Shagreen Breakfast Table with Palmwood Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Prague breakfast table by R&Y Augousti is an iconic design of their collection, debuting from the 1990s. This signature has been updated with metal accents on the border of the table and on the 3 legs. This classic center piece can be adapted for an entrance room or custom-sized for a dining room. The circular shaped coal black shagreen inlaid top sits on a cluster of geometric inlaid bronze-patina brass legs that clasp into a floating palm wood inlaid ring...
Brass
Shagreen Breakfast Table with Palmwood Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Prague breakfast table by R&Y Augousti is an iconic design of their collection, debuting from the 1990s. This classic center piece can be adapted for an entrance room or custom-sized for a dining room. The circular shaped coal black shagreen inlaid top sits on a cluster of geometric inlaid shagreen legs that clasp into a floating palm wood inlaid ring...
Palmwood, Shagreen Stingray
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in Dm 35.5 in
Round Marble Top Breakfast Table with Polished White Tulip Pedestal
Located in North York, ON
Round Marble Top Breakfast Table with Polished White Tulip Base. Original from the 1970’s. Featuring 2 tone marble top with polished white m...
Marble, Metal
$2,080Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.7 in W 78.75 in D 35.43 in
French Provincial Style Dining Room Table with Black Ebonized legs
Located in Miami, FL
French Provincial style dining room table with black ebonized legs Handmade with solid wood.
Walnut
Antique Spanish Oval Round Dining Table with Four Legs
Located in Miami, FL
An antique Spanish Carved Walnut Four Legs dining table. Circa 1900. Having a round top over a beaded skirt, rising on a four legs on the raised base to reinforce the table.
Pine
Else Dining Table with White Lacquer Top and Metal Base
Located in Westport, CT
Round dining table with a handmade metal base. White lacquered wooden round top.
Metal
L.E.D. Bench by Ingo Maurer
By Ingo Maurer
Located in New York, NY
A limited edition of 1000 hand signed by Ingo Maurer. Laminated safety glass, 288 white LEDs inside, emitting light on both sides. 230/125 volts, 48 volts DC. Invisible live parts....