Known for his sleek, award-winning Space Age lighting, Rolf Krüger was an influential and important contributor to the advancement of German mid-century modern furniture design during the 1960s and 1970s.
Born in Hamburg in 1939, Krüger grew up in the maritime city of Husum, located near the German-Danish border. In 1959, he studied free and applied arts at the Heinrich Zernack School in Berlin before attending the Meisterschule für das Kunsthandwerk (now the Universität der Künste Berlin) from 1960 to 1964. There, he studied product design, painting, photography and commercial graphics and graduated with a diploma in design.
From 1964 to 1982, Krüger worked for several German lighting and furniture design firms, creating metal, glass and concrete products. For manufacturer Staff Leuchten, he designed bubble glass pendants (created with Japanese lighting designer Motoko Ishii), tube decorative wall lamps and the iconic Cross Oyster flush mount ceiling light, which was displayed in the exhibition stand of Mercedes-Benz at the 1970 Geneva International Motor Show. In 1968, Krüger collaborated with German industrial designer Dieter Witte to create a large wall panel version of the Cross Oyster light for Staff Leuchten.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Krüger worked with lighting manufacturer Heinz Neuhaus Leuchten to create several popular pieces like his cubic wall lights and brass tubular desk lamps. For furniture maker Paul Neuhaus Leuchten, Krüger designed his elegant, modernist double wall sconces.
Throughout his design career, Krüger has received more than 30 awards, including multiple iF Design awards. His lighting pieces are in the collections of the Landesmuseen Schleswig-Holstein, the Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf, the Design Museum in Munich and the Kunstgewerbemuseum of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Rolf Krüger lighting.
Xxl Chromed Metal Bubble Hanging Light by Rolf Krüger for Staff Lights, Germany
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Xxl Bubble hanging light PRODUCER: Staff Lights, Germany DESIGN: Rolf Krüger Origin: Germany Age: 1970s Description: This hanging light was designed by Rolf Krüger in the 1970s and produced by Staff Light in Germany...
Metal
1970s Brown Metal Bubble Hanging Light by Rolf Krüger for Staff Lights, Germany
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Bubble hanging light Producer: Staff Lights, Germany Design: Rolf Krüger Origin: Germany Age: 197...
Metal
$1,405 / set
H 14.18 in Dm 9.06 in
Staff Leuchten Set of Three 'Brass' Hanging Pendant Lights / Lamps, circa 1970s
By Staff Leuchten
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Mid-Century Modern hanging pendant ceiling lights / lamps by Staff Leuchten of Germany, circa 1970s. Anodised aluminium with 'brass' / 'gold' colored finish and white painted inner f...
Metal, Aluminum
$573Sale Price / item|44% Off
H 13.39 in Dm 13.39 in
One of 20 Opaline Glass Lamp by Rolf Krüger Staff Leuchten 34 cm, Germany 1960s
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Rosendahl, DE
One of twenty vintage opaline glass globe lights, model p117 from Staff Leuchten, designed by Rolf Krüger. The lights are made for E27 sockets and can be wired with a black cable of ...
Chrome
$273Sale Price / item|40% Off
H 9.45 in Dm 5.52 in
One of 20 Opaline Glass Lamp by Rolf Krüger Staff Leuchten 14 cm, Germany 1960s
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Rosendahl, DE
One of twenty smaller vintage opaline glass globe lights, model p117 from Staff Leuchten, designed by Rolf Krüger. The lights are made for E14 sockets and can be wired with a black c...
Chrome
$1,111 / set
H 7.88 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Set of 9 Ceiling or Wall Lamps by Rolf Krüger for Staff, 1960s
By Staff Leuchten, Rolf Krüger
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
The set includes 5x the 20cm high lamp and 4x the 12cm. Design from Rolf Krüger 1966, winner of the German IF Award in 1967! Rod luminaires are particularly suitable for creati...
Metal
$383Sale Price / item|61% Off
H 13.77 in Dm 9.05 in
One of Five Bubble Glass Chrome Pendant Lamps by Staff, 1960
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Vienna, AT
Beautiful bubble glass pendants by Staff, Germany (five identical pieces available) featuring chromed hardware and black cordwire. The glass has got a very subtle smoke effect, the c...
Brass, Chrome
Midcentury Pendant Lamp by Rolf Krüger for Staff Leuchten, 1960s
By Staff Leuchten, Rolf Krüger
Located in Praha, CZ
- very nice style of lighting - rare type - marked by label - Semi lamp type
Copper
1 of 2 Bubble Glass Lamp, STAFF, Krüger, Mid-Century, B condition
By Staff Leuchten, Rolf Krüger
Located in Berlin, BE
One of two classic ball lamps with bubble relief. Original from the 1970s. Glass / chrome Manufacturer: Staff, Germany Design: Rolf Krüger Diameter: 24 cm / 9.45 inches Cable le...
Metal
Set of 2 German Hanging Lamps by STAFF, Glass / Metal, 1970s
By Staff Leuchten
Located in Berlin, BE
Great classics from STAFF. Design: Rolf Krüger Glass body and replaceable metal cylinder, which is simply placed over the glass. There is also a single one in copper. With an alu...
Aluminum
$1,463 / item
H 28.75 in Dm 13.78 in
1 of 12 Rare Designer Glass Pendant Lamp by Rolf Krüger for Staff, Germany 1970s
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Rare designer smoked glass pendant lamp by Rolf Krüger for Staff, Germany, 1970s, Germany, circa 1970-1979. Sockets: One x E27 standard bulb (max. 100 Watts) and compatible also w...
Smoked Glass
Staff Brown Hanging Lamp, 1970s, Germany
By Staff Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Staff brown hanging lamp made in Germany in the 1970s. The brown lamp shade is made of aluminium. The light requires one E27 light bulb. The height is adjustable up to 150 cm.
Bakelite
$999 / set
H 7.75 in W 4 in D 4 in
Set of Six Staff Tube Ceiling or Wall Lights Designed by Rolf Krüger, Germany
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A stunning set of six sconces or ceiling lights made in Germany, by Staff Leuchten. Each with chrome and metal. Easy to mount and fantastic to look at. Each Fixture requires one Euro...
Metal, Chrome
$6,995 / set
H 9.85 in W 9.85 in D 4.34 in
"2031" Lamps by Rolf Krüger for Staff Leuchten, Germany 2nd half of the 20th C
By Staff Leuchten, Rolf Krüger, Dieter Witte
Located in Utrecht, NL
This striking pair of wall lamps, designed by Rolf Krüger and Dieter Witte, highlights the refined innovation of 20th century German design. Crafted in lacquered aluminium, each lamp...
Aluminum
Oyster Lamp Kreuzauster by Rolf Krüger for Staff Leuchten, 1960s
By Staff Leuchten, Dieter Witte, Rolf Krüger
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Ceiling / wall lamp designed by Dieter Witte and Rolf Krüger for the German house Staff Leuchten especially for the 1965 World's Fair in Munich.
Metal
Sold
H 5.91 in W 24.61 in D 24.61 in
Cross Oyster Light Sculpture, 1968 Design by Rolf Krüger for Staff, Germany
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Munster, NRW
Overwhelming Cross Oyster wall or ceiling light sculpture - produced in 1968 by Staff Leuchten, designed by Rolf Krüger. approx. 1.90 meters x 1.90 mete...
Aluminum, Metal
Sold
H 5.91 in W 24.61 in D 24.61 in
Oyster Copper Light Sculpture 1968, Staff, Germany, Design by Rolf Krüger
By Rolf Krüger, Dieter Witte, Staff Leuchten
Located in Munster, NRW
Overwhelming oyster copper wall light sculpture: about 1.90 meter x 1.90 meter! (75 inch x 75 inch) 9 oyster elements built onto wooden frames. square positioning etc. possible. ...
Aluminum
Sold
H 24.61 in W 24.61 in D 5.91 in
Original 9er Set Copper Staff Oyster Wall Light Lamp Panel Witte Krüger
By Dieter Witte, Staff Leuchten, Rolf Krüger
Located in Telgte, DE
60th original 9er set copper staff oyster wall light lamp panel by Witte & Krüger Wall light model Oyster, German design by Dieter Witte & Rolf Kru¨g...
Copper, Steel
Sold
H 100.4 in W 100.4 in D 9.85 in
Oyster Copper Light Sculpture, 1968, Staff, Germany, D. Witte and R. Krüger
By Rolf Krüger, Dieter Witte
Located in Munster, NRW
Overwhelming Oyster copper wall light sculpture - about 2.5 meter x 2.5 meter! 16 oyster elements built in two wooden frames to be arranged in a square, you can also arrange them ...
Metal