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.
Find vintage Robert Sonneman lighting on 1stDibs.
Minimalist Desk Lamp Robert Sonneman, '80s
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
A designer black desk, task, or nightstand table lamp/light, Minimalist design period, 1988. Lamp is by designer Robert Sonneman for Robert Kovacs maker. With designer and makers' ma...
Metal
1970's Robert Sonneman Chrome Table Lamp
By Sonneman Lighting, Robert Sonneman
Located in Hanover, MA
Space Age 1970’s mod vertical tubular chrome table lamp with eight Edison screw lightbulbs. Shown with half-chrome and clear round glass globe bulbs but also looks glamorous with oth...
Chrome, Stainless Steel
$350
H 19 in W 23 in D 6 in
Vintage Robert Sonneman Mid Century Modern Black Eyeball Adjustable Desk Lamp
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Robert Sonneman Mid Century Modern Black Eyeball Adjustable Desk Task Lamp. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 19" H x 23" W x 6" D. (Location: Section 1) Standard antiqu...
Metal
$400Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 14.18 in D 5.52 in
Rare Large Midcentury Table Lamp Robert Sonneman, USA, 1980s
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman, Memphis Milano
Located in Praha, CZ
- very rare lamp - halogen light - dimming intensity of light - very nice style of blue lighting
Metal
Robert Sonneman Steel and Brass Lamp
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Houston, TX
Robert Sonneman steel and brass lamp. Handsome late 20th century steel and brass table lamp or desk lamp by Robert Sonneman. This unusual lamp is geometr...
Brass, Steel
$2,042Sale Price|30% Off
H 29 in W 36 in D 12 in
Postmodern Counterweight Desk Lamp by Robert Sonneman, USA 1970-80s
By Robert Sonneman, Sonneman Lighting
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Ingenious desk lamp with a counterweight mechanism which allows the lamp to be stable in every position. The spheric counterweight is solid steel and heavy enough to point or positio...
Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Vintage Brass Saturn Table Lamp, Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, 1980
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in San Carlos, CA
Vintage Brass "Saturn" Table Lamp by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, United States, circa 1980 A definitive example of American postmodern lighting design. Robert Sonneman's "Sat...
Brass
Robert Sonneman Table Lamp Postmodern 1980s
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Čelinac, BA
Robert Sonneman Postmodern Table Lamp 1980s
Metal
$800
H 15.25 in W 16.75 in D 4.75 in
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs 1980s Post Modern Brass and Glass Desk Lamp
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs 1980s table lamp. This is a stunning example of a post modern table lamp by Sonneman for Kovacs. This lamp features a full metal body with matte b...
Brass
$995
H 15.25 in W 9.5 in D 6.75 in
Postmodern Halogen Table Lamp Style of Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Postmodern halogen table lamp style of Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs with brass plated double shaft, chrome plated capitals, black painted metal top & base, dimmer switch, and halogen lamp. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. No outstanding flaws we have found. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th Century. Oh ya… we can definitely see a light at the end of the tunnel!! And it’s a GORGEOUS vintage halogen table lamp...
Metal
Vintage Robert Sonneman for Kovacs Table Lamp, 1980s
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage table lamp features sculptural shape with stepped black base and top structures; the top structure ends with an undermounted glass disk, discreetly supported by two metal co...
Brass, Chrome
Robert Sonneman Saturn Desk or Table Lamp Postmodern
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Very cool and iconic brass and glass Saturn desk lamp from the 1980s designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs. This lamp has a round glass disc with a domed top that's supported...
Metal
$438
H 17.5 in W 7 in D 7 in
Mid-Century Modern Lucite with Chrome Eyeball Desk Table Lamp Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant table desk lamp fully adjustable. Lamp pivots on a Lucite 7 x 7 base, tightens with the use of a chrome thumbscrew. Chrome eyeball shade does the same, totally adj...
Chrome