Thanks all
fastfwd, thanks. I look forward to your Tolomeo essay 🙂
Barry, thanks for the info.
Alexander, where are your lamps? 🙂
Erik, I appreciate your input but I meant for this thread to showcase lamps that the forum members own. Lamps we wish we had is an entirely different subject. Thank you for your understanding.
My least midcentury modern lamp:
Tolomeo's functionality
a) It's big, so it clears computer monitors (which were just starting to appear on mainstream office desks when the lamp was designed). Those monitors were CRTs back then -- as deep as they were wide -- so when they were illuminated by a small lamp on one side of the desk, they'd throw the other side of the desk completely into shadow. If you sometimes needed to light that side of your desk, you'd have to get an additional lamp.
b) The wide reflector lets the lamp illuminate a large portion of your desk without having to lift it so high or tilt it so far back that the bulb shines straight into your eyes. Older anglepoise lamps generally had tighter-focusing reflectors, designed for casting a small pool of light on a single page -- no good for simultaneously illuminating a computer keyboard AND a sheet of paper or a book.
c) The reflector head rotates 360 degrees and swivels nearly as far; without moving the arms, you can shine the light directly on everything in the room except the upper few inches of the lamp's upper arm.
d) The opening in the back of the reflector head allows diffuse light to shine upward so you can see the rest of the room without having to switch on another lamp.
e) It takes standard incandescent light bulbs, available everywhere.
f) It doesn't get searingly hot, even with a 100W bulb; you can reach up and move it without looking.
Plus it looks fantastic and moves smoothly and doesn't have rattly external springs.
What will be weird
is that in a few short years, incadescent bulbs will be either outlawed or increasingly scarce, and so far, many of my lamps will not fit the current lot of compact florescent bulbs, and the LED bulbs are way too expensive.
It'll be interesting to see if the lighting stores around will start carrying narrow bulbs and shorts ones for these 'specialty' lamps.
Besides, at this point, I prefer the light given by the incadescent bulbs, darn it.
Tolomeo by de Lucchi?
This is the Tolomeo by Michele de Lucchi. I have several of his Memphis-Milano designs in my collection.
http://www.amdl.it/en/index.asp
Archimoon and AJ Visors
Gustaf: I really like that Archimoon; it's my favorite Starck lamp by far.
Although I have to say that of all the beautiful lamps posted so far, the one I desire most is the AJ Visor that Gustaf, NickR60, and Robert1960 have. Both the floor and desk models are SO good-looking...
Can't have lamps 🙁
I have traded all things that rest on tabletops and all things that could be pulled down for an active 3-year-old. I do have a pair of cheap, round paper lanterns hanging next to my couch, though. One was hit by a helicopter and ripped.
Barry, agreed on the new bulbs -- I dislike them. My neighbor's house has all white, vinyl blinds and compact fluorescent bulbs, and it glows an eerie blue at night.
Lots of white walls. Are white walls a must for design addicts?
fastfwd
I enjoyed the essay. You build a strong case. There may very well not be a better anglepoise around for all I know.
The Archimoon: as much as I like its looks and that it's a rather subtle contemporary interpretation of the anglepoise, it is not very flexible. Also, the shade has a tendency to come loose after a while and it's a hassle to retighten. Italian temperament I suppose. It's going to be replaced shortly.
Barry, I hear you. I much prefer the color temperature of incandescents. Plus they don't contain any mercury. Of the low energy brands I have tried, Megaman looks the best.
I share everyone's love of the AJ lamp. I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing it. I also have it in black.
This is another lamp in the same league (sorry for the bad photo, but I guess everyone will recognize it anyway):
Gustav: Sorry I don't have...
Gustav: Sorry I don't have my camera with me right now and my house's a mess at the moment, so maybe that's for the best...
I have some Grossman, Alf Svensson and also some unattributed Swedish lamps, which I like a lot. Most of my lamps are from the early 1950's, but I also have a set of 3 of Tom Dixon's 'Beat' pendants, which hopefully adds some contemporary air to my home, even though these are fairly retro in their design too...
Erik H: The cone shade floor lamps of Devriendt's are really nice. I did not know his work before. The yellow floor lamp looks too familiar though. It must be a 1950-60's design, -right?
I just started...
I just started collecting lamps.
1. Unknown pendant lamp from Scandinavia
See ID request thread: http://www.designaddict.com/design_addict/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/th...
2. Joe Colombo Coupè 3321 floor lamp
3. IKEA pendant lamp 365+ BRASA (cheap but cute)
Anagram
What a lovely thread ! I enjoyed looking at all those nice lamps.
I don't know why but those scandinavian designers surely make wonderful designs. Is it bc of their dark weather that they know how celebrate light ? I love that AJ visor, and those white poul henningsen (or similar) ones.
PS the Greta - lamp is an anagram for Great lamp: very correct indeed ! :o)
I'll try to post some photos, but most things are stored away, so I improvised a bit..
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com