Mid-Century Modern Yasha Heifetz Undulating Dancer Table Lamp, 1950s

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Mid-Century Modern Yasha Heifetz Undulating Dancer Table Lamp, 1950s

About the Item

When Marcel Breuer designed and furnished a house for an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, he intentionally left out lamps. In an interview in November of 1949, he said that he could not find a well-designed modern lamp, and that, anyway, lamps were unnecessary. "The light is more important than the lamp," he said. In February of 1950, lamp designer Yasha Heifetz (not to be confused with Jascha Heifetz, the violinist) countered that built-in lighting was "flat and static" and he set out to prove the value of a good lamp. With the MoMA, in 1950 he co-sponsored a national lamp design contest, hoping to change the opinions of Breuer and other modernist purists about domestic lighting. Over 600 competitors entered, submitting almost 3000 designs. Heifetz, Breuer, the museum's director René d’Harnoncourt, the museum's director of the department of architecture and design Philip Johnson, lighting designer Richard Kelly and others acted as jurors. Some of the competitors were Richard Schultz from Knoll, as well as Frank Greenhaus and Kevin Roche, both of whom worked for Eero Saarinen, along with Alexey Brodovitch, art director for Harper's Bazaar. Fifteen winners were announced in 1951, and Heifetz immediately began producing ten of the winning designs. Breuer was won over and started ordering lamps for his clients. The modern lamp had gained legitimacy. Heifetz himself was a passionate sculptor working exclusively in wood and it is thought that the biomorphic wood forms came from his hand directly. Don't miss this stunning handcrafted undulating dancer lamp by the legendary Heifetz.

Creator:
Yasha Heifetz (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 28 in (71.12 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Wood
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1950
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Good vintage condition. Minor age appropriate wear. Does no include shade.
Seller Location:
Brooklyn, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU4190312462513