Instantly recognizable by their long slender armatures and domed, ovoid shades, the best-known floor lamps and other lighting fixtures of Serge Mouille have become emblems of the organic design of the mid-20th century. Along with Jean Prouvé, Mathieu Matégot and others, Mouille brought a fresh, modern aesthetic to metalwork, one of the most tradition-bound mediums in the decorative arts.
Mouille (pronounced: MWEE) was born to a working Parisian family. At age 15, he took up studies in the metalworking atelier of that École des Arts Appliqués, under the tutelage of the goldsmith and sculptor Gabriel Lacroix. After graduating, in 1941, Mouille worked in Lacroix’s studio and began teaching at his alma mater four years later.
In the early 1950s, bothered by the preponderance of new Italian lamps and chandeliers on the market and consumed with the belief that fixtures by Gino Sarfatti and others were unnecessarily complex, Mouille opened a lighting-design workshop. He quickly won commissions from several French schools and libraries. In 1956, the influential Paris gallerist Steph Simon — who also promoted Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand and Isamu Noguchi — began to show Mouille designs, introducing his work to private collectors. Mouille would continue making handcrafted lighting fixtures at a slow but steady pace until 1964, when he stopped working to begin a long course of treatment for tuberculosis. When it was completed, Mouille returned to teaching at the École des Arts Appliqués for the remainder of his career.
With the biomorphic shades and long armatures of his fixtures, Mouille created one of the most engaging and idiosyncratic lighting aesthetics of his time. Though often described as “insect-like,” his pieces have more in common with the fluid, buoyant forms in the paintings of Jean Arp. (Mouille designed several cylindrical or columnar lamps; though highly collectible, those are interesting outliers in his body of work.)
As with Prouvé’s folded metal forms and Matégot’s perforated steel, Mouille brought a novel lightness and energy to metal furnishings. Since Mouille’s designs found renewed popularity in the early 2000s, licensed re-editions of his pieces are being produced. The disparity in price between vintage and current-day Mouille pieces is great. Older works — identification tip: the interior white reflective enameling has a yellowish cast — cost $20,000 to $40,000, and newer pieces go for 10 to 20 percent less than that. As you will see on these pages, Serge Mouille created icons of 20th century design — at once sleek, suave and friendly — that belong in any modern decor.
Find vintage Serge Mouille table lamps, chandeliers and other lighting on 1stDibs.
Serge Mouille Mid-Century Modern Black Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Lamp
By Serge Mouille, Editions Serge Mouille
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling wall lamp model 'Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Lamp' designed by Serge Mouille in 1953. Manufactured by Collection Serge Mouille in France. The production of lamps, wall li...
Aluminum, Bronze, Steel
Serge Mouille Mid-Century Modern White Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Lamp
By Serge Mouille, Editions Serge Mouille
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling wall lamp model 'five fixed arms spider ceiling lamp' designed by Serge Mouille in 1953. Manufactured by Editions Serge Mouille in France. The production of lamps, wall ligh...
Aluminum, Bronze, Steel
$3,698 / item
Serge Mouille 'Tuyau' Ceiling Lamp in Black
By Serge Mouille, Editions Serge Mouille
Located in Glendale, CA
Serge Mouille 'Tuyau' ceiling lamp in black. Originally designed in 1955, this iconic ceiling lamp is still made by Edition Serge Mouille in France using many of the same small-sc...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Serge Mouille Mid-Century Modern Black Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Lamp
By Serge Mouille, Editions Serge Mouille
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling wall lamp model 'Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Lamp' designed by Serge Mouille in 1953. Manufactured by Editions Serge Mouille in France. The production of lamps, wall ligh...
Aluminum, Bronze, Steel
Serge Mouille Mid-Century Modern White Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Wall Lamp
By Serge Mouille
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling wall lamp model 'Five Fixed Arms Spider Wall Lamp' designed by Serge Mouille in 1953. Manufactured by Editions Serge Mouille in France. The production of lamps, wall lights ...
Aluminum, Bronze, Steel
Serge Mouille Mid-Century Modern White Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Wall Lamp
By Serge Mouille
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling wall lamp model 'five fixed arms spider wall lamp' designed by Serge Mouille in 1953. Manufactured by Editions Serge Mouille in France. The production of lamps, wall lights ...
Aluminum, Bronze, Steel
Serge Mouille Mid-Century Modern Black Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Wall Lamp
By Serge Mouille
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling wall lamp model 'Five Fixed Arms Spider Wall Lamp' designed by Serge Mouille in 1953. Manufactured by Editions Serge Mouille in France. The production of lamps, wall light...
Aluminum, Bronze, Steel
Serge Mouille Mid-Century Modern Black Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Wall Lamp
By Serge Mouille
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling wall lamp model 'Five Fixed Arms Spider Wall Lamp' designed by Serge Mouille in 1953. Manufactured by Editions Serge Mouille in France. The production of lamps, wall lights ...
Aluminum, Bronze, Steel
Serge Mouille - Spider Ceiling Lamp with 3 Arms
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
A slight angle at the end of each arm allows this classic design to be equally at home on the ceiling. With rotating heads on fixed arms, the versatility is only rivaled by its beauty. Available in white or black. Brass swivels connect the shades. COLOR OPTION Available in Black or White FEATURES Like all spider lamps, ceiling or wall fixtures, this lamp is asymmetrical. The arms do not swivel, do not rotate, do not extend nor retract. They are perfectly still. Only the shades rotate and swivel. CUSTOMIZATION Customization possible for the arm's lengths. Arm length = from vertical line of the pendant to the tip of the shade. SWITCH OPTIONS The 3 Arm Spider Ceiling Lamp...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
$6,550
H 39.38 in W 47.25 in D 33.47 in
Serge Mouille Pendant Ceiling Spider Lamp with Five Fixed Arms
Located in London, GB
My favourite Serge Mouille.
Aluminum
$9,990 / item
H 26 in W 43 in D 70 in
Serge Mouille - Black or White Spider Ceiling Lamp with Three Arms
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
A slight angle at the end of each arm allows this classic design to be equally at home on the ceiling. With rotating heads on fixed arms, the versatility is only rivaled by its beaut...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Serge Mouille - Ceiling Lamp with 6 Rotating Arms in Black
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
Impressively large, this six-arm ceiling lamp is a Mouille Classic. Tilting and rotating heads with rotating arms of 31 and 54 inches make this fixture a truly spectacular statement ...
Aluminum, Steel
Serge Mouille - White or Black Spider Ceiling Lamp with 3 Arms
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
A slight angle at the end of each arm allows this classic design to be equally at home on the ceiling. With rotating heads on fixed arms, the versatility is only rivaled by its beaut...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Serge Mouille - Ceiling Lamp with 6 Rotating Arms in Black
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
Impressively large, this six arm ceiling lamp is a Mouille classic. Tilting and rotating heads with rotating arms of 31 and 54 inches make this fixture a truly spectacular statement ...
Aluminum, Steel
Serge Mouille - Black Spider Ceiling Lamp with 5 Arms
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
Elegance in form and function are hallmarks of a Serge Mouille lamp. This ceiling lamp with adjustable shades on five fixed arms is at once an old and practical design that works wel...
Aluminum, Steel
Serge Mouille - Library Ceiling Lamp
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
Originally designed to illuminate bookshelves in a library, this unique lamp may also light works of art or highlight a particular area in a room. The pivoting lampshade works well alone or in grouped installations. Custom drop lengths upon approval. COLOR OPTION Available in Black or White FEATURES Shade rotates and swivels CUSTOMIZATION Dimension of pendant required when placing an order.. Pendant = from the ceiling to the tip of the shade. SWITCH OPTIONS The Library Ceiling...
Aluminum, Steel
Serge Mouille - Spider Ceiling Lamp with 5 Falling Arms in Black
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
DESCRIPTION: A chandelier as inspired as it is impressive, this new design departs significantly from the original Spider ceiling lamp, with five fixed arms of different lengths dr...
Metal, Aluminum
$13,663 / item
H 23.63 in W 86.62 in D 59.06 in
Serge Mouille Mid-Century Modern Black Three Rotating Arms Ceiling Lamp
By Editions Serge Mouille, Serge Mouille
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling lamp model 'Three rotating arms ceiling lamp' designed by Serge Mouille in 1958. Manufactured by Editions Serge Mouille in France. The production of lamps, wall lights and f...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Serge Mouille - Ceiling Lamp with 6 Rotating Arms in Black
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
Impressively large, this six-arm ceiling lamp is a Mouille classic. Its tilting and rotating heads, with rotating arms of 31 and 54 inches, make this fixture a spectacular statement ...
Aluminum, Steel
Serge Mouille - Spider Ceiling Lamp with 7 Arms
By Serge Mouille
Located in Stratford, CT
This lamp with rotating heads on seven fixed arms is a statement as much as it is a ceiling lamp - one that will command the conversation. Available in white or black. Brass swivels connect the shades. COLOR OPTION Available in Black or White FEATURES Like all spider lamps, ceiling or wall fixtures, this lamp is asymmetrical. The arms do not swivel, do not rotate, do not extend nor retract. They are perfectly still. Only the shades rotate and swivel. CUSTOMIZATION Customization possible for the arm's lengths. Arm length = from vertical line of the pendant to the tip of the shade. SWITCH OPTIONS The 7 Arm Spider Ceiling Lamp...
Brass, Aluminum
Original Black Two Arms Wall or Ceiling Lamp by Serge Mouille
By Serge Mouille
Located in Vienna, AT
This fantastic rare original adjustable two-arm wall or ceiling lamp was designed and manufactured by Serge Mouille, Paris France in the 1950s. It features matt black enameled stem ...
Brass, Aluminum, Steel
Rare Saturne Sconces by Serge Mouille
By Serge Mouille
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Applique Saturne sconces by Serge Mouille. Manufactured in France, circa the 1970s. Remarkably formed sconces that mimic the orbital rings of Saturn. Si...
Brass, Aluminum, Steel
Sold
H 78.75 in W 94.49 in D 35.44 in
Serge Mouille Mid-Century Modern White Five Fixed Arms Spider Ceiling Wall Lamp
By Serge Mouille
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceiling wall lamp model 'five fixed arms spider wall lamp' designed by Serge Mouille in 1953. Manufactured by Editions Serge Mouille in France. The production of lamps, wall lights ...
Aluminum, Bronze, Steel
Serge Mouille Three Rotating Arms Ceiling Lamp
By Editions Serge Mouille, Serge Mouille
Located in Utrecht, NL
Plaffonnier 3 brass Pivotants / three rotating arms ceiling lamp by Serge Mouille. Earlier edition from 2009 by Gin Mouille. Originally designed in 1...
Steel
Serge Mouille
By Serge Mouille
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Escargot ceiling fixture
Brass