Architectural 1960s Articulated Floor Lamp by Robert Sonneman
View Similar Items
Architectural 1960s Articulated Floor Lamp by Robert Sonneman
About the Item
- Creator:Robert Sonneman (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 70 in (177.8 cm)Width: 32 in (81.28 cm)Depth: 21 in (53.34 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good condition, with pictured imperfections to visor.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3576310211701
Robert Sonneman
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.
- Stilnovo: Articulated Minimalist Chrome Floor Lamp by Joe Colombo, Italy 1960'sBy Joe Colombo, StilnovoLocated in New York, NYJoe Cesare Colombo (1930-1971) Futuristic “Topo” floor lamp by noted Italian industrial designer Joe Colombo for Stilnovo, in chromed metal with ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Chrome
- Arredoluce Style Chrome and Marble Triennale Floor Lamp, Italy 1960'sBy ArredoluceLocated in New York, NYStriking, spare, adjustable three-light floor lamp in the style of Arredoluce, with bell jar-shaped industrial polished chrome shades on a subtly tapered shaft rising from a contrast...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMarble, Chrome
- Fontana Arte by Nathalie Grenon Floor Lamp in Glass and Wood, Italy 1990By Nathalie Grenon, Fontana ArteLocated in New York, NYNathalie Grenon (b. 1954) for Fontana Arte A pure and elegant modernist floor lamp designed by French architect Nathalie Grenon for Fontana Arte. A stunning rectangular frame in re...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$12,400 Sale Price20% Off - Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce Extendable Height Floor Lamp in Brass, Red LacquerBy Angelo Lelii, ArredoluceLocated in New York, NYAngelo Lelii (1911-1979) An elegant, adjustable floor lamp by Angelo Lelii (sometimes spelled Angelo Lelli), for his pioneering lighting firm Arredoluce. A graceful tripartite base ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$13,200 Sale Price20% Off - Tom Dixon, Early Pair of Kinetic Gold Leaf Spiral Floor Lamps, UK 1988By Tom DixonLocated in New York, NYTom Dixon (b. 1959) An early, highly spirited pair of spiral floor lamps by designer Tom Dixon OBE, in spun steel covered in hand-applied gold leaf. Undulating coils rising out of gilt domed bases that each cradle a hidden bulb, these interactive, sculptural works are intentionally pliable. They’re designed to glimmer and, if desired, sway, projecting helix-like shadows that dance on the ceiling: a choreography of light. "I got interested in making lights active rather than static," Dixon said of this pivotal work. "It’s hard to pass this lamp without smacking it to make the light dance. This was my first real lamp and sparked an enduring passion for lighting objects." Inspired by the kinetic sculpture and shadow-play of artists like Alexander Calder, Jean Tinguely, and Ruth Asawa, this raw and buoyant pair of lights is animated by Dixon's ongoing focus on materiality, manufacturing, and form. At the nexus of his early experiments welding found objects into salvage furniture...Category
Vintage 1980s English Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel, Gold Leaf
$14,000 Sale Price / set20% Off - Luigi Caccia Dominioni Rare and Monumental Mikado Table Lamp, Italy, circa 1963By Luigi Caccia DominioniLocated in New York, NYLuigi Caccia Dominioni (1913 - 2016) A rare and monumental Mikado lamp by Milanese architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni, for Azucena. An elegantly stepped nec...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsGranite, Metal
- Robert Sonneman Eyeball Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in San Diego, CARobert Sonneman eyeball floor lamp circa 1960s, USA. The lamp features a chrome sphere shade on a pivoting arm that can be adjusted to mult...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Vintage Brass & Glass Floor Lamp by Robert SonnemanBy Robert Sonneman, George KovacsLocated in London, GBA stunning and rare vintage brass & glass floor lamp by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs. This was made in the USA in the 1970-80’s, it is a beautiful design. It is a lovely size, ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Chrome Right Angle Floor Lamp by Robert SonnemanBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Kansas City, MOChromed Steel floor lamp designed by Robert Sonneman, 1960s. The 90 degree angle provides for excellent lighting for reading or accent lighting. F...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsChrome
- Robert Sonneman Post Modern Floor LampBy Robert Sonneman, George KovacsLocated in Miami, FLPost-Modern torchiere uplighter floor lamp rendered in powder coated and painted steel with geometric forms reminiscent of Ettore Sottsass Memphis Milano designs, by Robert Sonneman.Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
$3,200 Sale Price20% Off - Triennale Mid Century Modern Orbiter Chrome Floor Lamp by Robert SonnemanBy Robert SonnemanLocated in San Jose, CAVintage Triennale floor lamp designed by Robert Sonneman circa 1970's. This versatile piece features three adjustable chrome orb light heads that pivot on balancing lever arms. Globe light bulbs...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Chrome
- Chrome Floor lamp/table by Robert Sonneman--1960s USABy Robert SonnemanLocated in Miami, FLBeautiful Chrome Floor lamp with glass table. Robert Sonneman USA 1960s.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsChrome