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Robert Sonneman Floor Lamps

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.

Find vintage Robert Sonneman lighting on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Robert Sonneman
Rare! Iconic SONNEMAN Articulating Saucer Pharmacy Swing Arm Floor Lamp! Orange
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Peoria, AZ
SENSATIONAL! SONNEMAN PHARMACY LAMP RARE & COVETED ORANGE COLOR! MARVELOUS MODERNISM! Approximately 45" Tall by 20" wide Offered is a fabulous Sonneman Pharmacy Floor Lamp! So...
Category

Early 2000s Robert Sonneman Floor Lamps

Materials

Metal, Enamel

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 Floor Lamps

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Pair of Robert Sonneman Adjustable White Floor Lamps
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
A pair of white metal and chrome floor lamps with adjustable shade and arm. USA, circa 1970. Made by Robert Sonneman. Priced as two (2) floor lamps. Dimensions: 54.5 inch height 9...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Robert Sonneman Floor Lamps

Materials

Chrome

Adjustable Black and Chrome Triennale Floor Lamp by Sonneman Arredoluce Style
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Fully adjustable sharp looking American vintage Classic alternative to Italian Arredoluce floor lamp.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Robert Sonneman Floor Lamps

Materials

Chrome

Floor Lamp in Midnight Chrome by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, USA, c. 1987
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
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 Floor Lamps

Materials

Chrome

Robert Sonneman floor lamps for sale on 1stDibs.

Robert Sonneman floor lamps 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 floor lamps, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original floor lamps 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 floor lamps by Koch & Lowy, Gerald Thurston, and Laurel Lamp Company. Prices for Robert Sonneman floor lamps can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $800 and can go as high as $12,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,913.

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