Robert Sonneman Spotlight Floor Lamp
View Similar Items
Robert Sonneman Spotlight Floor Lamp
About the Item
- Creator:Robert Sonneman (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 50 in (127 cm)Width: 6 in (15.24 cm)Depth: 10 in (25.4 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.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:Seller: 9811stDibs: 15033091871046
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.
- Cedric Hartman Floor Lamp, 1970By Cedric HartmanLocated in Chicago, ILCedric Hartman floor lamp, 1970. OriginalCategory
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Karl Springer Lucite Floor Lamp, 1970By Karl SpringerLocated in Chicago, ILKarl Springer Lucite floor lamp, circa 1970. Chrome base.Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsLucite
- Floor Lamp Style of Ron Arad, ItalyBy Zeus, Ron AradLocated in Chicago, ILFloor Lamp Style of Ron Arad, Italy. Lamp is absolutely gorgeous, sits on wooden base with brass ball feet. Measures 4' 3.5" tall, 2' 4" wide and 2' 4" deep. Base is 9" diameter.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Nobi Floor Lamp by Fontana Arte, 1990sBy Fontana ArteLocated in Chicago, ILNobi floor lamp by Fontana Arte. Chrome with glass shade, circa 1990.Category
20th Century Italian Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsChrome
- Italian Mid-Century Brass and Glass Torchiere Floor Lamps, 1960Located in Chicago, ILItalian midcentury Brass and Glass Torchiere Floor Lamps, 1960.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Karl Springer Scavo Glass Floor Lamp, Seguso, 1980By Karl SpringerLocated in Chicago, ILKarl Springer Scavo glass floor lamp, Seguso 1980. Murano Scavo glass torchere floor lamp designed by Karl Springer for Seguso, Italy, circa ...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsGlass
- Robert Sonneman Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Atlanta, GASculptural Black and Chrome Floor Lamp, designed by Robert Sonneman, American, circa 1970s. It has been rewired and is ready to use.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
$1,400 - Robert Sonneman Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Palm Springs, CASonneman chrome plated steel floor lamp. Lamp measures 18" wide, 18" deep and 65" high. Base is 10" diameter. We had the shade professionally relined. Shade measures 12" wide, 12" de...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
- 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
- Robert Sonneman Orbiter Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in San Mateo, CAAdjustable floor lamp designed by Robert Sonneman. The arc portion rotates 360 degrees. The straight arm adjusts the shade up and down as well as side to side. This makes an excellen...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsIron
- Robert Sonneman Chrome Triennale Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Winnipeg, MBBeautiful adjustable chrome floor lamp designed by Robert Sonneman. This piece features three counterbalance arms with pivoting cylindrical shades that allow for a range of configura...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Chrome
- Robert Sonneman Counter Balance Floor LampBy Robert SonnemanLocated in Sheffield, MAMid-century 1970s vintage counter balance arm adjustable floor lamp by Robert Sonneman. This classic modern floor lamp is a result of the long-time rel...Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal