Robert Sonneman Furniture
American, b. 1943
Though Robert Sonneman was quite literally born into the lighting business, it took working for another celebrated lighting maker for him to land upon the kind of boundary-pushing modernism for which the New York–based designer is known today.
At the age of 19, fresh off a stint in the U.S. Navy, Sonneman responded to an ad for a position working in the studio of George Kovacs on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where he became the sole employee. “Although my parents were in the lighting business, they came from a traditional perspective, and Kovacs introduced me to modernism,” Sonneman once said. “It was 1961, and I was immediately captured by the movement.”
While working for Kovacs, Sonneman became captivated by the work of the Bauhaus, and he began experimenting with the influential art and design school’s ideas of functional simplicity in lighting. In 1967, he opened his own studio.
Though Sonneman Design Group produced furniture for a brief time, the designer eventually elected to focus on the one category that had always fascinated him; the brand became known for its floor lamps, sconces, pendants and chandeliers that feature unconventional treatments toward shape and balance, often inspired by modern architecture. Sonneman once said of his work: “I saw the lamps that I built as lighting machines that glorified the industrial aesthetic.”
Indeed, in the spirit of Bauhaus functionality — Sonneman has also cited Mies van der Rohe as being an inspiration — the designer’s work takes function-centric forms and motifs and elevates them while prioritizing technology. This spirit of forward thinking continues today, as Sonneman’s brand, renamed SONNEMAN – A Way of Light in 2003, works with LED bulbs to continue to push the boundaries of what functional lighting can achieve aesthetically.
Current-day releases by SONNEMAN – A Way of Light (still overseen by Sonneman himself) feature 95 percent LED lights and include interior and exterior lighting as well as modular suspended lights as an alternative to track lighting. Sonneman’s vintage pieces, however, are still widely collected on the secondary market.
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Creator: Robert Sonneman
Modern American Pendant Colored Metal Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Robert Sonneman Mother Pearl tube Cathedral chandelier
Total height cm 100
Perfectly working
This artwork, never before on the market,...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Robert Sonneman Desk or Table Lamp for George Kovacs, 1990
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Miami, FL
Dark bronzed metal base with wood accent and sandblasted opaque glass shade desk or table lamp by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, 1990.
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Robert Sonneman Floor Lamp
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Black and Chrome Floor Lamp, designed by Robert Sonneman, American, circa 1970s. It has been rewired and is ready to use.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Robert Sonneman Cascading Pendant Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The cords are adjustable to your desired length and can extend another 6-12".
For more than four decades, New York City-based Robert Sonneman has been at the forefront of modern lig...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
Robert Sonneman 1980s "Art Tech" Pendant
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
A New York 1980s "Art-tech" ceiling light by famed lighting designer, Robert Sonneman. Original label. Rewired.
Bio:
Robert launched his own lighting company under the Sonneman brand in 1967. His products were featured in retailers such as Bloomingdales, Macys and many others.
In 1974 Robert founded Sonneman Design Group developing products for leading brands for the home including, Lightolier, Sunbeam Appliance, Singer, Stanley Furniture, Brueton, Goody Products, Lifetime Brands and others.
Since 1967 Robert's work has been displayed by the Museum of Modern Art, Chicago Art Institute, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, UCLA Exhibition on Design, Karnette County Art Museum and the Houston Contemporary Arts Museum.
Robert has participated and lectured at Stanford University, Pratt School of Architecture, Parsons School of Design, Philadelphia College of Art and UCLA. He was also a contributor on Chrysler and Toyota projects at the Art Center, Pasadena College of Design, and served on the Nissan Design Advisory Board.
In 1990, Sonneman again broke new ground for Stanley Furniture with his "Urban Primitive" collection for Macy's, a comprehensive program of home furnishings.
From 1999 to 2005 Robert served as president and CEO of Ralph Lauren Home Product Development.
In 2003 with partners David Littman and Sonny Park, Robert founded Sonneman - A Way of Light.
Robert Sonneman pioneered modern lighting making it an art form. World renowned and acclaimed for clean lines and alliance to form and function, his world famous award winning designs have been at the forefront of the design world for over four decades. Robert introduced sleek, new functionalist lighting...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Steel
Sonneman Chrome Eyeball Articulating Floor Lamp
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic 1960s articulating floor lamp by Robert Sonneman with chrome eyeball shade attached by an articulating joint to the long chrome stem at the base of which is the hefty round a...
Category
1960s American Space Age Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Chrome, Iron
Robert Sonneman table/desk lamp for Luci Cinisello, Italy, 1970 chrome and metal
By Robert Sonneman
Located in LE CANNET, FR
Rare Multidirectional desk lamp by Robert Sonneman for Luci Cinisello from the 70s.
The diffuser is in chromed metal, the base in red lacquered metal. Uncommon model in this color. ...
Category
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
1970s L shaped brass floor lamp with two lights
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Rare floor lamp attributed to Robert Sonneman. This light very seldom comes up for sale. The lamp has a halogen bulb on top which, I have replaced with a LED, and a fluorescent bulb ...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Robert Sonneman White Three-Arm Orbiter Floor Lamp with Marble Base, 1960s
By Robert Sonneman
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fantastic 1960s Robert Sonneman “orbiter" three-arm floor lamp with rare white enameled globes and counterweights and white marble base.
Original finish on this minimalist mid-cen...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Metal, Enamel, Chrome, Copper
Robert Sonneman Adjustable Chrome Hanging "Tail Pipes" Pendant, Circa 1970
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Modern Robert Sonneman Chrome and Off-White Enameled Wind Chimes Hanging Pendant, Circa 1970. Featuring five staggered, variable, alternating and adjustable height Chrome tubes with ...
Category
1960s American Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Chrome, Metal
1970s Tubular Pearl Metal Sheet Cathedral Chandelier Pendant Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s, Tube cathedral chandelier pendant by Robert Sonneman.
Modern sheets of mother-of-pearl metal form tubes on this sculptural modern art chan...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Robert Sonneman 1970 Modernist Eyeball Floor Lamp In Polished Chrome Steel
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Miami, FL
Modernist floor lamp designed by Robert Sonneman.
An exceptional iconic floor lamp, created in America by Robert Sonneman, back in the 1970. This amazing half-spheres floor lamp was...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Floor Lamp in Midnight Chrome by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, USA, c. 1987
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a true American Modern masterpiece: a rare Post Modern floor lamp designed by the renowned Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs. Constructed from steel with a sultry midnight chrome finish this exceptional floor lamp swivels...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Robert Sonneman Tubular Floor Lamp
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Robert Sonneman tubular floor lamp c.1970s, USA. The lamp features a cream enameled tubular lamp that curves at the lamp shade with a round base, a simplistic yet eye catching design...
Category
1970s American Post-Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Black and Chrome Triennale Floor Lamp by Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
This is the American answer to the classic Italian "Triennale" floor lamp for Arredoluce. The arms (each 36" L) pivot and tilt to adjust the direction of the light. Each arm has a ch...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Chrome, Steel
Pair of Super Stylish Brass Desk Lamps by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Super stylish mid century modern brass desk lamps signed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs.
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Brass
Robert Sonneman Articulating Chrome Floor Lamp with Black Shade, 1970s
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Modern Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs adjustable reading floor lamp. Featuring a tubular chromed steel stem, arm, knob, and ball socket, adjustable black enameled aluminum with wh...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome, Iron
Sonneman 3-Arm Oscillating Floor Lamp in Chrome and White
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a beautiful 76" high and very functional floor lamp by Robert Sonneman. The lamp features a metal base with three chromed poles that support eyeball shaped globes which are a...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Rare Robert Sonneman Atomic Three Eye Floor Lamp
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare Robert Sonneman floor lamp with three eye sockets. Each socket has its own independent switch and the head swivel up and down and side to side to be di...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Space Age Model Orbiter Floor Lamp by Robert Sonneman, 1960s
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Hamburg, DE
Counterweight standing lamp after a design by the American designer Robert Sonneman from the 1960s. Here in the execution of the Italian manufacturer Luci.
An elegant design of high...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Black Marble Column Table Lamp by Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful black marble table lamp by Robert Sonneman. simple design goes with many styles. shade not included
Dimensions:
Height of t...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Marble
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Box Head Table Lamp in Red
By Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Chicago, IL
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs box head table lamp in red.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Minty! White Sonneman Desk Table Lamp Articulating Gooseneck 1970 Rare Lighting
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Peoria, AZ
Minty!
Stunning White & Black
Sonneman Articulating
Desk/Table Lamp
Circa 1970
This is a magnificent example of the iconic articulating desk lamp by Sonneman! The large oversize...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Pair of Chrome and White Glass Pendant Lamps by Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A glamorous pair of 1970s polish chrome and white glass pendant lamps by Sonneman. The lamps are chrome on the outside and black lacquer in the inside. A white glass cylinder covers ...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Adjustable Table Light by Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in NYC, NY
A pair of lamps with a rectangular black base with pivoting arms ending in a lacquered black globe head with a black counter balance at the other end-well suited for as desk or bedside reading lamps.
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Sonneman Mid-Century Modern Desk Lamp
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Astoria, NY
Robert Sonneman Mid-Century Modern articulated desktop table lamp with white enamled spherical shade upon a white-painted wooden base. Measures : 18.8" H...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Metal
Post-modern Brushed Aluminum and Glass Table Lamp by Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Winnipeg, MB
Unique postmodern table lamp designed by Robert Sonneman. This piece features a geometric brushed aluminum body with contoured frosted glass diffuser. Measures 22” W x 5” D x 13” H. ...
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Modernist Lamp by Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A cool Modernist table lamp by Robert Sonneman. It is made of a circular black Lucite "C" frame with a clear Lucite base. Chrome post supports...
Category
1970s American Vintage Robert Sonneman Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Robert Sonneman furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Robert Sonneman furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Robert Sonneman furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Robert Sonneman were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Koch & Lowy, Gerald Thurston, and Chapman Manufacturing Company. Prices for Robert Sonneman furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $225 and can go as high as $12,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,550.