There's a good reason that the revered Tulip floor lamp by Max Bill (1908–94) looks at once sculptural, painterly and graphic: The Swiss artist behind the elegant fixture was something of a multi-hyphenate talent. Bill was a major proponent of modernist design in Europe and a sculptor whose work has been the subject of exhibitions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Guggenheim. He also worked as an architect, painter, typeface designer and writer. Product design was just one of many things that Bill did well.
Bill created the Tulip lamp for Swiss manufacturer BAG Turgi, a renowned producer of fine lighting from the 1940s to the 1960s, when the Tulip made its debut. The fixture, which is no longer in production, is a modern and graceful interpretation of a classic torchière,an upright style of floor lamp shaped like a torch. Rendered in white, Bill’s design — in which the base and lamp are a single continuous piece of enameled metal — takes on an ethereal glow when lit. When it’s turned off, the lamp becomes a subtle piece of sculpture.
Bill designed the Tulip lamp after he had concluded his tenure at the Ulm School of Design, an industrial design institution where he was a cofounder, architect and the school’s first rector. Inspired by the Bauhaus — where Bill studied under Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee in Dessau — Ulm’s founders aimed to further the progressive spirit in postwar Germany through an integration of artistic and scientific practices. With its sculptural form and skillfully concealed mechanical components, the Tulip floor lamp is an apt symbol of such juxtaposition.
Max Bill Tulip Floor Lamp Globe Glass & Aluminium by Temde, Switzerland, 1960s
By Temde Leuchten, Max Bill
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant space age bubble glass globe floor and table light. Illuminates beautifully and offers a lot of light. Heavy duty. Gem from the time. With this light you make a clear stateme...
Aluminum
$2,690
H 25.99 in Dm 17.72 in
White Tulip Table Lamp Globes by E. R. Nele for Temde, Switzerland, 60s, T-313
By E. R. Nele, Temde Leuchten
Located in Cork, IE
UK & EUROPE CUSTOMERS: PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A CUSTOMIZED SHIPPING QUOTE! This Space-Age table lamp by the celebrated German designer Eva Renée Nele was made by Temde Leuchten in Sw...
Metal
1960s Swiss Temde Leuchten Sevelen Globe Table Lamp
By Temde Leuchten
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1960s, Switzerland. Features a Space Age atomic design with a white enameled base and four hand-blown frosted glass diffuser shades. This piece has been rewired for US usage. We are...
Enamel
$2,455
H 25.6 in W 21.66 in D 19.3 in
German Space Age opaline glass chandelier by Max Bill for Temde, 1960s
By Max Bill, Temde Leuchten
Located in MIlano, IT
German Space Age opaline glass chandelier by Max Bill for Temde, 1960s Pyramid-shaped chandelier with ten spherical diffusers in opaline glass. The central structure in white painted...
Metal
$1,403 / set
H 21.26 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Pair of Rare Hand Carved Wooden Table Lamps from Temde, Switzerland, 1960s
By Temde Leuchten
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Pair of rare wooden table lamps from Temde, Switzerland 1960s . Hand carved in Honduras, made in Switzerland. The lamp with the shade shown here is 73cm high, the lamp base al...
Wood
Large Wooden Floor Lamp Temde Attributed, 1960s Switzerland
By Temde Leuchten
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
A very beautiful and decorative lamp from the 1960s. Probably from Temde/Switzerland. The lampshade has some minor flaws inside. Can't be seen from the outside. We therefore sell t...
Brass
$3,000
H 26 in W 19 in D 19 in
Max Bill Style E. R. Nele Original White Nine Globe Tulip Table Lamp, 1960s
By E. R. Nele
Located in Bainbridge, NY
E. R. Nele Off White Enameled Metal & White 9 Orb Glass Tulip Table Lamp. Featuring a warm Off-White cast aluminium tulip base with nine threaded Whi...
Aluminum
Table Lamps by Max Bill for Temde Switzerland
By Temde Leuchten, Max Bill
Located in Vienna, AT
Ball lamp by Temde, Max Bill from the 1960s. Glass ball with plastic base. Measures: Diameter: 14cm / Height: 29cm.
Opaline Glass, Plastic
Rare Table Lamp Temde, Teak and Sisal, Switzerland, 1960s
By Temde Leuchten
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type - very good original condition - beautiful style of lighting - marked by label
Brass
Swiss Vintage Globe Floor Lamp by Temde Leuchten
By Temde Leuchten
Located in Renens, CH
A Swiss-made 1960s floor lamp by Temde Leuchten, Switzerland. This lamp consists of nine frosted glass globes and a white enamel metal base and stem. A real statement piece, wheth...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Temde Sisal Desk Lamp, Germany / Switzerland 1960s
By Temde Leuchten
Located in Cork, IE
UK & EUROPE CUSTOMERS: PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A CUSTOMIZED SHIPPING QUOTE! This desk lamp is the quintessential Mid-Century Modern design: a conical sisal shade, an elegantly shaped ...
Brass
Rare Wall Light in Gold by Max Bill for Temde, Switzerland, 1960s
By Temde Leuchten, Max Bill
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
The lamps are executed with E14 Edison screw fit bulbs. It is wired, and in working condition. It runs both on 110 / 230 volt. Our lamps are checked, cleaned and are suitable for ...
Metal
$1,509
H 8.67 in W 5.52 in D 7.09 in
Temde Table Lamp with a sculpted Pinewood Block Germany/Switzerland 1960s
By Temde Leuchten
Located in Berlin, DE
Table lamp by Temde Leuchten, featuring a sculpted pinewood block with circular cut-outs, a braided natural-fiber loop for mounting, and a matte opaline glass globe diffuser. A warm,...
Rope, Glass, Pine
Max Bill Iconic Tulip Floor Lamp / Torchère for BAG, Switzerland, 1960
By Max Bill, BAG Turgi
Located in Buffalo, NY
Max Bill iconic Mid-Century Modern torchère floor lamp that has become a hard to find lamp in recent years. This Beautiful Lamp is Designed by Architect Max Bill for BAG Turgi of Swi...
Steel
Pair of Max Bill Torchiere Floor Lamps B.A.G. Turgi Switzerland
By Max Bill, BAG Turgi
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of white spun metal torchiere floor lamps by Architect Max Bill for B.A.G Turgi Switzerland, circa 1960. A fine example of Max Bills work. Remnant of paper Made in Switzerland ...
Aluminum
Swedish Pair White Torchieres Floor Lamps by Max Bill
By Max Bill
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1970’s Sculptural pair white powdered coated torchieres floor lamps by Swedish Architect Max Bill. Newly rewired. They take 100w Max Edison lightbulb. Measurements: 64.75” high, 9....
Aluminum
Max Bill Iconic Floor Lamp Torchère for BAG, Switzerland, 1960
By Max Bill
Located in San Diego, CA
Max Bill iconic Mid-Century Modern torchère floor lamp that has become a hard to find lamp in recent years. This Beautiful Lamp is Designed by Architect Max Bill for BAG Turgi of Switzerland. Max Bill Lamp is in great vintage condition but shows wear which is common for this piece, we have uploaded hi res images and included detailed images of chord, base and top of that shows light cracking in enamel paint coating over steel spun lamp...
Steel
Sold
H 58 in Dm 16 in
Rare Mid-Century Modern White Ball Floor Lamp by Max Bill for Temde, Switzerland
By Max Bill, Temde Leuchten
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A vintage 1960s tulip base floor lamp designed by Max Bill and manufactured by Temde in Switzerland. Very unique looking design. The lamp has bee...
Steel
Swiss Torchiere Floor Lamp by Max Bill in White Enamel
By Max Bill
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Iconic white enameled metal torchiere floor lamp by architect Max Bill designed in Switzerland, circa 1960s for BAG Turgi.
Metal
