While influential designer Greta Magnusson Grossman (1906–99) would earn feature articles in shelter magazines for her architectural work as well as win awards for other furnishings she conceived over the years, the Grasshopper table lamp is part of a line of designs for which she is most commonly known. With its conical metal shade ball-jointed onto a curved brass arm that renders it easy to direct light across a surface, the piece followed the distinct conceptual form of its predecessor, the now frequently imitated Grasshopper floor lamp. When the playful yet refined table variation made its 1948 debut, its creator was far from her native country.
Magnusson Grossman had been recognized as a pioneer of modernist design in Sweden by the time she emigrated with her husband to Southern California in 1940. She was among the first female graduates of the Stockholm School of Industrial Design and the first woman to win the Furniture Design award from the Swedish Society of Industrial Design. But it was good timing for her relocation: Americans had developed an appetite for Scandinavian modernism following the 1939 New York World’s Fair, where architect Alvar Aalto unveiled his Finnish Pavilion.
After building a solid reputation and an affluent client base for the lighting, rugs and more that she designed for her own shop on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Magnusson Grossman was recruited by Barker Bros., a widely popular California furniture retailer. As a designer for the store, she was critically important to a segment of the company’s business that showcased modern interiors to middle-class consumers in Los Angeles and elsewhere.
Magnusson Grossman’s innovative lighting line for Barker Bros. included the elegant Grasshopper table lamp, which today is manufactured by Gubi.
Grasshopper Table Lamp in Brass with Canvas Shade by Greta M. Grossman for GUBI
By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Gubi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Grasshopper Table Lamp in Brass with Canvas Shade by Greta M. Grossman for GUBI Originally designed in 1947 by Greta Grossman, the Gräshoppa series now features this new edition by...
Brass
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Table Lamp in Glossy White for GUBI
By Gubi, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Table Lamp in Glossy White for GUBI Designed in 1947 by Greta Grossman, this is an authorized re-edition by GUBI of Denmark who meticulously ...
Brass, Aluminum, Steel
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Table Lamp in Black Semi-Matte for GUBI
By Gubi, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Table Lamp in Black Semi-Matte for GUBI Designed in 1947 by Greta Grossman, this is an authorized re-edition by GUBI of Denmark who meticulous...
Brass, Aluminum, Steel
Mid Century Desk Table Grasshopper / 732 Lamp by Greta Magnusson Grossman, 1950s
By Ralph O. Smith, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare and early mid century desk / table lamp model "732" or "Grasshopper" in patinated brass and black lacquered shade designed by Greta Magnusson-Grossman and produced by Ralph...
Metal, Brass
H 13.5 in W 11.4 in D 16.7 in
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Cobra' Table Lamp in Black
By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Gubi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Cobra' Table Lamp in Black The 'Cobra' table lamp was originally designed by Grossman in 1950 and is now offered as an authorized re-edition by GUBI of Den...
Aluminum, Steel
H 49.25 in W 15 in D 17.25 in
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Floor Lamp in Glossy Black for GUBI
By Gubi, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Floor Lamp in Glossy Black for GUBI Designed in 1947 by Grossman, this is an authorized re-edition by GUBI of Denmark-- a meticulous reproduct...
Steel, Brass, Aluminum
H 49.25 in W 15 in D 17.25 in
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Floor Lamp in Dusty Blue for GUBI
By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Gubi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Floor Lamp in Dusty Blue for GUBI Designed in 1947 by Grossman, this is an authorized re-edition by GUBI of Denmark-- a meticulous reproductio...
Steel, Brass, Aluminum
H 16.22 in W 5.7 in D 5.9 in
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Table Lamp in Glossy Black for GUBI
By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Gubi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Greta Magnusson Grossman 'Grasshopper' Table Lamp in Glossy Black for GUBI Designed in 1947 by Greta Grossman, this is an authorized re-edition by GUBI of Denmark who meticulously ...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
H 15 in W 13 in D 12 in
Rare Enameled Aluminum Cobra Table Lamp by Greta Magnusson Grossman
By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Ralph O. Smith
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This lamp is a variant of the “Cobra” lamp which won the Good Design award in 1950 and was exhibited at the Good Design Show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. These lamps...
Aluminum, Steel
H 13.59 in Dm 6.5 in
Gubi Cobra Table Lamp Designed by Greta M. Grossman in Stock
By Gubi
Located in New York, NY
The authentic Cobra table lamp is of the most iconic designs by Greta M. Grossman. The table lamp was originally designed in the 1950s and takes its name from the shape of the oval s...
Chrome
H 12 in W 11.3 in D 14 in
1950s Polished Greta Grossman Original Cobra Table Lamp
By G. Ralph Smith, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Bensalem, PA
Polished metal original iconic Cobra lamp by Swedish designer Greta Magnusson Grossman was originally produced in the late 1940s (around 1948) and manufactured in the United States b...
Metal, Chrome
H 15 in W 11.5 in D 14.5 in
Greta Grossman Cobra Lamp for Ralph O. Smith
By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Ralph O. Smith
Located in San Francisco, CA
Greta Grossman Cobra lamp for Ralph O. Smith, Ca. The table lamp is nicknamed the Cobra lamp as it resembles a cobra’s hood. A flexible segme...
Steel
H 13 in W 11.5 in D 16 in
Cobra Lamp by Greta M. Grossman for Ralph O. Smith, 1950
By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Ralph O. Smith
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Iconic cobra lamp by Greta M. Grossman for Ralph O. Smith, circa 1950 in grey gun metal finish. Flexible arm, on/off switch at the base. Wired for US standards, one E26 socket, max. ...
Metal, Chrome
H 48.43 in W 15.75 in D 14.18 in
Greta Magnusson Grossman, "Grasshopper" Floor Lamp, Sweden, 1950's Label
By Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Greta Magnusson Grossman for Bergboms, Malmo, Sweden, 1950's. A "Grasshopper" floor lamp available in black enamel or grey/green. Both lamps have the original label applied to the ou...
Metal
H 23 in W 15 in D 15 in
Mid Century Modern Fiberglass Cobra Desk Lamp Greta Grossman Atomic Era 1950s
By Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Peoria, AZ
Original 1950 Greta Grossman Cobra Lamp Fiberglass Shade Rare Prototype or Pre-patent Competitor Here is an Incredible Greta Grossman style Cobra desk lamp! This lamp is believed t...
Metal, Brass
H 48.43 in W 14.18 in D 15.75 in
Vintage "Grasshopper" Floor Lamp, Greta Magnusson-Grossman, Sweden, 1950s
By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Bergboms
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Rare “Grasshopper” floor lamp by Greta Magnusson-Grossman, made from lacquered metal with amazing lines and proportions. Original petroleum blue lacquer that has aged beautifully.
Metal
H 16 in W 6 in D 14 in
Grasshopper desk table Lamp by Greta Grossman
By Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in San Diego, CA
The most iconic products Greta Grossman designed in the 40's and 50's were the Gräshoppa floor lamp and the Cobra floor and table lamps. Grossman was highly influenced by European Mo...
Metal, Brass
H 16 in W 14 in D 6.25 in
Greta Grossman 'Model 732' Table Lamp Produced by Ralph O. Smith
By Ralph O. Smith, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by Swedish-American designer Greta Grossman for Ralph O. Smith, c.1950s, USA. The lamp, known as the grasshopper table lamp, offers a minimalist design with a patinated bras...
Aluminum, Brass
H 14.18 in W 7.49 in D 13.59 in
Pair of "Grasshopper" Table Lamps by Greta Grossman for Ralph O. Smith, US 1950s
By Ralph O. Smith, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful, all original pair of Greta Grossman desk lamps with cream shade. Warm brass patina and original switch. 1 x E27 bulb each. The shades h...
Brass
