Pierre Guariche Model "G2" Swinging Floor Lamp Edition Disderot, France 1950s

Pierre Guariche's "G1" wall lamp is a quintessential piece of mid-century French design. The “G1” was originally designed by Guariche in 1951, and quickly became a marker of French 1...

Pierre Guariche is one of the most important designers of the French post-war period. Guariche is best known for the luminaires he designed, many of which feature details like hidden light sources, perforated metal surfaces and slender leg structures. With its clever construction, the “Kite” is a great example of the designer’s endless interest in technological innovation. Officially called model “G30”, this floor lamp was designed in the early 1950s. Guariche’s mid-century lights were created between 1951 and 1959, and are innovatively designed with a visible joy of experimentation. This is especially apparent in this model, featuring elements that may appear purely decorative, but on closer inspection turn out to be absolutely functional. The design is defined by the reflector, which also inspired the model’s nickname. Its white lacquered, perforated sheet metal reflector resembles a boat’s sail, and creates a filtered and soft light. This hidden illuminant and the glare-free light flow by means of the clever reflector provides atmospheric ambient light, while also giving the lamp a sculptural appearance. The light “sail...

This Dieter Schulz Model “No. 57/4 16” floor lamp is a timeless design piece created in 1957 for the Swiss company, Wohnbedarf AG Schweiz. Crafted from black enamelled metal and brass, this luminary exemplifies the quintessential mid-century European design aesthetic: functional, refined, and iconic. The Swiss designer, Dieter Schulz, born in Switzerland in 1928, was celebrated for his ability to blend form and function seamlessly. His Model No. 57/4 16 floor lamp exemplifies his design ethos, characterized by a commitment to craftsmanship, precision, and simplicity. This model has an unmistakable European mid-century look; from the clean lines and subtle decorative elements to the intuitive functionality, this lamp is timelessly stylish without sacrificing beauty. The lamp has a brass weighted base that is quite robust, supporting the long thin tubular metal shaft and enamelled shade. Contrasting to the black enamelled elements, the sheet brass stands out beautifully. This duality of colours and surfaces creates a lot of textural interest, further enhanced by the different shapes and forms. The lampshade has a streamlined look with the inner surface lacquered white to better reflect the light. The shade is adjustable thanks to the joints at the neck, making this lamp perfect spotlight lighting...

The “Crane” is evidence why Tapio Wirkkala can be described as one of the icons of Finnish design and a symbol of the international success of post-war Finnish design. He was a versatile designer and artist who could shift fluently between different materials and crossed established professional boundaries. Wirkkala’s far-reaching career spanned multiple fields, from furniture design to sculpture and other art objects, and this can be clearly traced in this floor lamp. It functions as an art object just as much as a utilitarian lamp. With its slender shape and a brass and black lacquered body, this lamp is a great modernist piece that stands out in any space. The ingenious structure allows the height to be adjustable, and the design customizable. The main design elements are placed around the main functional parts, namely the shade, the adjusting rod, and the base. The sculptural brass rods cross each other similarly to a crane, and inspired the nickname of this model. The black lacquered conical shade and base, as well as the spherical counterweight stand out against the bright brass and add a modern edge to the design. The shade is lacquered white inside, creating a pleasant effect when the lamp is lit. Idman’s label engraved on the brass handle. Idman produced the models of some of the most renowned Finnish lighting designers of the time, including Tapio Wirkkala, Mauri Almari and Maria Lindeman. Unlike other aesthetic movements, Mid-Century Modern design was streamlined, while highlighting the materials used. The vibe of this “Crane” floor lamp is fresh, retro-tinged, and completely alluring with its dedication to quality and practicality wrapped up in beautiful design that will never go out of style. Condition: In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The brass has a beautiful patina. Dimensions: 26.37 in W x 7.08 in D x 51.39 in H (height is adjustable) 67 cm W x 18 cm D x 128 cm H (height is adjustable) Literature: Tuula Sakalari, Katri Lehtova, Werner Söderström, “Suomalaisia Tuolej”, Osakeyhtio, Helsinki, 2012, pp. 96 & 97 About the designer: Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) can be described as one of the icons of Finnish design and a symbol of the international success of post-war Finnish design. He was a versatile designer and artist who could shift fluently between different materials and crossed established professional boundaries: he worked on everything from refrigerators to banknotes and from furniture to striking jewels. The most important materials for Wirkkala were wood and glass – he never ceased to explore the possibilities they offer. Tapio Wirkkala studied sculpture at the Helsinki Central School of Industrial Design from 1933 until 1936, but he was also a self-studied artist in many areas, including glass design. His success as a glass artist began in 1946 when he designed one of his most famous works, the Kantarelli vase, for Iittala. Wirkkala gained worldwide success in 1951 at the Milan Triennial, where he received three Grand Prix awards: for the exhibition architecture, glass design and wooden sculptures. Many of his glass works for Iittala were also awarded later in the 1950s at the Milan Triennial. In the years 1951-1954, Wirkkala worked as the artistic director of Helsinki Central School of Industrial Design. In 1955, he received a Pro Finlandia medal and in 1972 the Academy of Finland's honorary title of academician. The first mass-production glassware range designed by Wirkkala was the Tapio series launched in 1954. The popular Ultima Thule glassware range, created in 1968, was based on the so-called ice glass technique, and the designer himself was involved in developing it at the Iittala glass factory. Wirkkala also received important commissions from abroad: in the mid-1960s he started to design glass objects for Venini Glassworks in Italy, where he created the Bolle bottles for the Venice Biennale collection in 1966. One of Wirkkala’s most significant commissions abroad was the work at the Rosenthal porcelain factory in Germany: he worked as a freelance designer for Rosenthal for almost 30 years, and the most influential result was the Paper Bag vase (1977), still today one of Rosenthal’s best-selling products. Tapio Wirkkala was also a furniture designer and a sculptor. He started his career as a sculptor in the 1930s, but abandoned the traditional sculpture in the post-war years. The result was a series of unique plywood sculptures which combined form and movement in the vibrant, densely lineated surface of plywood. Wirkkala’s sculptures represented exceptional abstractionism and gave Finnish sculpture...

Paavo Tynell is one of Finland’s best known and collected mid-century designers. Tynell was a pioneer of European lighting design and a founder of the ...

Svend Aage Holm-Sørensen was a Danish designer who is best known for his wide collection of light fixtures. A licensed ornamental metalworker, Holm-Sørensen started his design career...

Rare Pierre Guariche "Cerf Volant" floor lamp model G30. France, 1951. Black lacquered metal feet, brass stem, black and white re-lacquered small metal shade, brass fixings. Bibli...

Adjustable and folding lamp, with an iron magazine rack with cable cords and a bronze lamp support, attributed to Pierre Guarriche (1926 - 1995). France, CIRCA 1950.

« Cerf-volant » model floor lamp by Pierre Guariche, Editions Atelier Pierre Disderot, Paris, France, circa 1952, with a shaft composed of two gilded brass tubes forming a « V », enc...

Model of Pierre Guariche, France, 1970 We recently acquired a large set of floor lamps from a hotel in Paris. They have been restored and rewired for US. This pair of these articula...

The G21 reading lamp is the perfect source of precise, intimate accent lighting. Available with a black/white or white/white lampshade and in a slightly perforated version, this mode...

Large G1 floor lamp by Pierre Guariche. Designed and manufactured in France. Enameled aluminum, metal, brass. Wired for U.S. standards. This is a current production of the magisteria...