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Blue Desk Lamps

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Light blue desk lamp from Italy 1960s.
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Light blue italien table lamp from the 1960s. Made from metal and aluminum. The lampshade can be
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum, Metal

Light blue desk lamp from Italy 1960s.
Light blue desk lamp from Italy 1960s.
H 14.18 in W 8.67 in D 9.85 in
Mid-Century Norwegian Modern Navy Blue Desk Lamp Heron by Isao Hosoe for Luxo
By Luxo, Isao Hosoe
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
The Heron adjustable desk lamp was designed by Isao Hosoe for the Norwegian manufacturer Luxo in
Category

1990s Norwegian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Plastic

A blue Glass Desk Lamp by Michael Bang for Holmegaard, 1970s, Denmark
By Michael Bang, Holmegaard
Located in Værløse, DK
A blue desk lamp designed by Michael Bang for Danish Holmegaard Glasværk in 1975 accomplished new a
Category

Vintage 1970s Danish Table Lamps

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Blue Lucite Chrome Desk Lamp, Italy, 1980
Located in Vienna, AT
Delicate perspex table lamp, Italy, circa 1980 featuring a bended blue Lucite slab with chromed
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Angelo Lelli Blue Table Desk Lamp, Italy, 1950s
By Angelo Lelii
Located in Munich, DE
Midcentury Angelo Lelli table desk lamp in blue metal and chrome base, Italy, 1950s.  
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Kartell Mini Kabuki Desk Lamp in Blue by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A mini version of the lamp in a complex thermoplastic polymer with a characteristic perforated
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Plastic

1950s Fiberglass Desk Lamp
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Classic form midcentury table or desk lamp consisting of a green fiberglass spherical shade
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

1950s Fiberglass Desk Lamp
1950s Fiberglass Desk Lamp
H 18.25 in W 14.5 in D 19 in
Harveiluce 'Panda' Desk Lamp in Blue by Ambrogio Pozzi, 1970s
By Harveiluce, Ambrogio Pozzi
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Charming and rare desk lamp designed by Ambrogio Pozzi for Harveiluce in the 1970s. This cleverly
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Plastic

Kartell Aledin Dec Desk Lamp in Blue by Alberto e Francesco Meda
By Alberto Meda, Kartell, Francesco Meda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
generation 5.6 W LED lamp bulbs. Made of: Polycarbonate. Assembly required. Voltage: 24V dc. Available in
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Plastic

Chrome Desk Lamp with Lacquered Blue Sputnik Design, French, 1970s, Midcentury
Located in New York, NY
Chrome desk lamp with lacquered blue Sputnik design, French, 1970s. Beautiful desk lamp in
Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Classic Industrial Metal Polish Desk Lamp with Enamel Blue Shade, 1950s
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This classic desk lamp was produced in Poland during the 1950s. The lamp has a solid base made of
Category

Vintage 1950s Polish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Phillip Harris Lab Desk Lamp
Located in Alton, GB
Bold lab desk lamp produced by Phillip Harris C1960-1970 in a aquamarine blue/green.
Category

20th Century Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Phillip Harris Lab Desk Lamp
Phillip Harris Lab Desk Lamp
H 17.72 in W 3.94 in D 1.97 in
Bellhop Grey Blue Portable Rechargeable Wireless Desk or Table Lamp for FLOS
By Flos, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FLOS Bellhop T Table Lamp in Grey Blue by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby Portable, rechargeable and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Resin

Kartell Aledin Tec Desk Lamp in Blue by Alberto E Francesco Meda
By Kartell, Francesco Meda, Alberto Meda
Located in Brooklyn, NY
generation 5.6 W LED lamp bulbs. Made of: Polycarbonate. Assembly required. Voltage: 24V dc. Available in
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Plastic

Antique Louis XVI Style Bronze Desk/Table Lamp with Blue Iridescent Glass Shade
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An elegant antique desk or table lamp in Louis XVI style. The lamp is made of copper and casted
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Table Lamps

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Sky Blue Mirror Table Lamp
By Il Paralume Marina
Located in Milan, IT
this table lamp a superb addition to a luxurious interior. Either on a nightstand, entryway console or
Category

2010s Italian Art Deco Table Lamps

Materials

Crystal

Sky Blue Mirror Table Lamp
Sky Blue Mirror Table Lamp
H 47.25 in Dm 15.75 in
Counterbalance Brass Desk Lamp, Midcentury style
By Arredoluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This exquisite desk lamp with a solid brass counterbalance is designed to enhance your workspace
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass, Aluminum, Metal

Desk Lamp from National Matsushita, Japan, 1960s
By National Matsushita
Located in Lisboa, PT
This desk lamp was designed and manufactured by National Matsushita, in Japan, during the 1960s
Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
Located in Geneve, CH
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi Dimensions: D 16 x W 48 x H 25 cm Material: Lacquered recycled
Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum, Stainless Steel

3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
H 9.85 in W 18.9 in D 6.3 in
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
Located in Geneve, CH
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi Dimensions: D 16 x W 48 x H 25 cm Material: Lacquered recycled
Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum, Stainless Steel

3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
H 9.85 in W 18.9 in D 6.3 in
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
Located in Geneve, CH
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi Dimensions: D 16 x W 48 x H 25 cm Material: Lacquered recycled
Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum, Stainless Steel

3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
H 9.85 in W 18.9 in D 6.3 in
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
Located in Geneve, CH
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi Dimensions: D 16 x W 48 x H 25 cm Material: Lacquered recycled
Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum, Stainless Steel

3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
3-Pop Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
H 9.85 in W 18.9 in D 6.3 in
Art Deco Desk Lamp by Eileen Gray
By Eileen Gray, Maison Jumo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This iconic desk lamp has its original pastel blue finish. We have rewired and refurbished the lamp
Category

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Steel

Art Deco Desk Lamp by Eileen Gray
Art Deco Desk Lamp by Eileen Gray
H 16 in W 18 in D 8 in
1960’s Mid Century Vintage Italian Desk / Reading Lamp
Located in London, GB
A small desk lamp with chrome base and neck, with sky blue painted metal shade. The lamp is Italian
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Italian Articulated Desk Lamp with Clamp Fixing, 1950s
By Stilnovo
Located in London, GB
An unusual articulated desk lamp with clamp fitting that allows the light to be attached to a desk
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Desk Lamp by Paavo Tynell for Taito, 1950
By Taito Oy, Paavo Tynell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful early desk lamp model 5305 by Paavo Tynell for Taito, Finland, in brass with a large
Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Jacques Biny Attributed Jupiter Desk Lamp for Aluminor
By Jacques Biny
Located in Montréal, QC
Jacques Biny attributed Jupiter desk lamp manufactured in the 1950s. Royal blue enamel on pierced
Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Enamel

Sintesi Desk Lamp by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide
By Ernesto Gismondi
Located in Dallas, TX
Architectural Sintesi desk lamp in unusual original blue finish designed by Ernesto Gismondi for
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Vintage Multicolored Desk Lamp by Veneta Lumi, 1980s
By Veneta Lumi
Located in Lisboa, PT
This pair of table lamps were designed and produced by Veneta Lumi in Italy, during the 1980s
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Cobalt and Chrome Glass Library Desk Lamp
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Banker’s or Barrister’s desk lamp, with a Cobalt blue glass lampshade which has a white reflective
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Chrome

Stilnovo Milano, Large Articulated Desk Lamp from 60s, Signed
By Stilnovo
Located in Catania, CT
Good vintage condition with trace of age and use for this blue metal articulated desk lamp produced
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

White Flamingo Minimalist Desk Lamp by Jørgen Møller for Royal Copenhagen
By Royal Copenhagen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Interesting tubular desk or architects table lamp from Royal Copenhagen. It was designed during the
Category

Vintage 1980s Danish Minimalist Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum, Chrome, Steel

Blue Swirl Glass Mushroom Table Lamp
By Pukeberg Sweden
Located in Amityville, NY
Blue glass mushroom table lamp or desk lamp. Swirling in a tie-dye like pattern, shades of blue mix
Category

Vintage 1980s Swedish Table Lamps

Materials

Glass

Pair of Blue Chinese Export Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Chinese export lamps in a stunning robins's egg blue on a gilt base. The finish has a
Category

20th Century Chinese Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

Blue Ceramic and Bronze Table Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
Single Mid-Century Modern dark blue ceramic and bronze base table or desk lamp, France, 1950s Sold
Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Fratelli Toso Millefiori Desk Lamp, Murano, circa 1950
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Fratelli Toso Millefiori Desk Lamp, Murano circa 1950 A rare millefiori murrine glass desk
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine

Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Multicolored Blue by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
centimetres. Bourgie becomes a gorgeous decorative desk or table lamp. Thanks to its flexibility and strong
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Plastic

A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade, Late 19th / Early 20th Century French
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade
Free Shipping
H 25.99 in W 14.97 in D 9.06 in
Model 'Round' Desk Lamp by Michel de Lucchi for Bieffeplast, Italy, 1983
By Michele de Lucchi, Bieffeplast
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage table lamp by Beiffeplast, Italy. Bold 1980s design with blue and green enameled metal and
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Alta Lamp -Contemporary Handmade Ceramic table desk lighting, Matte White
By Calyer Ceramics
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One of a kind ceramic lamp, unique and hand built. The lamp base is comprised of speckled stoneware
Category

2010s American Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

No.71 Desk Lamp by Eileen Gray for Jumo, 1930s
By Maison Jumo, Eileen Gray
Located in Lisboa, PT
This No. 71 desk lamp was designed by Eileen Gray for Jumo, in France, during the 1930's. It is
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Table Lamps

Materials

Brass, Chrome, Metal, Aluminum

No.71 Desk Lamp by Eileen Gray for Jumo, 1930s
No.71 Desk Lamp by Eileen Gray for Jumo, 1930s
H 16.54 in W 17.33 in D 5.91 in
British Art Deco Chrome and Blue Glass Table or Desk Light
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Brittish, Art deco, blue glass, chrome desk light / table lamp 2,5 meter black cotton wire, plug
Category

Mid-20th Century British Art Deco Table Lamps

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Ferdinand Solère Rare Desk Lamp with Rotating Arm
By Ferdinand Solere
Located in Bochum, NRW
Mid-century desk lamp designed by Ferdinand Solere for SolR Paris, France 1950s, orange lacquered
Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Stoneware desk lamp by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1950s, Denmark
By Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
A rare stoneware desk lamp by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen stoneware made in the in the 1950s. It is
Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Brutalist Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

Bunny Williams Home Brush Stroke Lamp 'Blue'
By Bunny Williams Home
Located in New York, NY
lamp. Generously sized, it’s a perfect to invigorate a desk in a home office or side table in a living
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

Wonderful Early 20th Century Industrial Desk Lamp by OC White
By O.C. White
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Cobalt blue enameled shade, brass arm and base, and cast iron center arm. Really great combination
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Muller Freres French Art Deco Swiveling Desk / Table Lamp, ca.1920
By Studio Art Deco
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French Art Deco swiveling desk / table lamp by Muller Freres (Luneville), France, ca.1920. Mottled
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Muller Freres French Art Deco Swiveling Desk / Table Lamp, ca.1920
By Studio Art Deco
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French Art Deco swiveling desk / table lamp by MULLER Freres (Luneville), France, ca.1920. Mottled
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Blue Floral White Mushroom Murano Glass Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
White Murano glass mushroom shaped table or desk lamp with blue floral line details. This requires
Category

1990s Italian Table Lamps

Materials

Glass

Greta Grossman Cobra Table Lamp, Blue Grey
By Gubi, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Berkeley, CA
The authentic Cobra table lamp is of the most iconic designs by Greta M. Grossman. The table lamp
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Chrome, Aluminum

Greta Grossman Cobra Table Lamp, Blue Grey
Greta Grossman Cobra Table Lamp, Blue Grey
H 13.38 in W 11.4 in D 6.69 in
Greta Grossman Grasshopper Table Lamp, Blue Grey
By Gubi, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Berkeley, CA
organic and modern. The Gräshoppa Table Lamp brings not only a perfect, functional addition to the desk
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass, Aluminum

Antique Vintage Industrial Dugdills Brass Table Desk Task Factory Lamp Light
Located in Sale, GB
- A rare and early example of a brass daisy joint table lamp by the illustrious John Dugdill, circa
Category

Early 20th Century British Table Lamps

Materials

Brass, Enamel

20th Century Blue Swedish Single Orrefors Glass Desk Light by Carl Fagerlund
By Orrefors, Carl Fagerlund
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-blue vintage Mid-Century Modern Swedish table lamp with a new white round shade made of
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Chrome

A Glass Desk Lamp by Lisbeth Brams for Fog & Morup, 1960s, Denmark
By Fog & Mørup, Lisbeth Brams
Located in Værløse, DK
A dark blue glass desk lamp designed by Lisbeth Brams in 1966 for Fog & Mørup. The eye-catching
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Table Lamps

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Pair of Blue Midcentury Louis C. Kalff Table Lamps for Philips
By Louis Christiaan Kalff
Located in London, GB
This pair of desk lamps were designed by Louis C Kalff in the 1950s for Philips. The lamps are
Category

Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Ewå Värnamo, Desk Light / Table Lamp, Teak, Brass, Lacquered Steel, Sweden 1960s
By Ewå Värnamo
Located in High Point, NC
A highly modernist table lamp / desk light. Produced by Ewå Värnamo, Sweden, 1960s. Blue leather to
Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Beautiful Rare Cased Glass Table Desk Lamp Designed by Bo Borgstrom for Aseda
By Aseda, Bo Borgstrom
Located in San Diego, CA
Navy blue rare desk table lamp designed by Bo Borgstrom for Aseda, retains label , clear cased
Category

20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Glass

Vintage "Giada" Large Desk Lamp by Pier Giuseppe Ramella for Arteluce 'Flos'
By Pier Giuseppe Ramella, Arteluce
Located in Firenze, FI
1980s Arteluce “Giada” table lamp by Pier Giuseppe Ramella. A black lacquered metal base with a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum

Pair Søholm Table Lamps, Dark Blue Stoneware, Denmark, 1960s
By Soholm Pottery
Located in Norwalk, CT
blue stoneware, these table lamps exude a sense of timeless sophistication. The rich, deep hue of the
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Stoneware

Italian Blue Opaline Glass Table Lamp with Scalloped Edge
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian blue opaline glass lamp, circa early to mid-20th century, Italy. Lamp is an
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Table Lamps

Materials

Gold

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Blue Desk Lamps For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of blue desk lamps for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, plastic and brass, all blue desk lamps available were constructed with great care. There are 48 antique and vintage blue desk lamps for sale at 1stDibs, while we also have 2 modern editions to choose from as well. Blue desk lamps have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. Mid-Century Modern, Industrial and Modern blue desk lamps are consistently popular styles. Large blue desk lamps can prove too imposing for some spaces, so the smaller blue desk lamps available at 1stDibs — each spanning 1.78 inches in width — may make for a better choice. There have been many well-made blue desk lamps over the years, but those made by Christian Dell, Kaiser and Stilux are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Blue Desk Lamps?

Blue desk lamps can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $990, while the lowest priced sells for $235 and the highest can go for as much as $4,953.

Finding the Right Lighting for You

The right table lamp, outwardly sculptural chandelier or understated wall pendant can work wonders for your home. While we’re indebted to thinkers like Thomas Edison for critically important advancements in lighting and electricity, we’re still finding new ways to customize illumination to fit our personal spaces all these years later. A wide range of antique and vintage lighting can be found on 1stDibs.

Today, lighting designers like the self-taught Bec Brittain have used the flexible structure of LEDs to craft glamorous solutions by working with what is typically considered a harsh lighting source. By integrating glass and mirrors, reflection can be used to soften the glow from LEDs and warmly welcome light into any space.

Although contemporary innovators continue to impress, some of the classics can’t be beat. 

Just as gazing at the stars allows you to glimpse the universe’s past, vintage chandeliers like those designed by Gino Sarfatti and J. & L. Lobmeyr, for example, put on a similarly stunning show, each with a rich story to tell.

As dazzling as it is, the Arco lamp, on the other hand, prioritizes functionality — it’s wholly mobile, no drilling required. Designed in 1962 by architect-product designers Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the piece takes the traditional form of a streetlamp and creates an elegant, arching floor fixture for at-home use.

There is no shortage of modernist lighting similarly prized by collectors and casual enthusiasts alike — there are Art Deco table lamps created in a universally appreciated style, the Tripod floor lamp by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Greta Magnusson Grossman's sleek and minimalist Grasshopper lamps and, of course, the wealth of mid-century experimental lighting that emerged from Italian artisans at Arredoluce, FLOS and many more are hallmarks in illumination innovation

With decades of design evolution behind it, home lighting is no longer just practical. Crystalline shaping by designers like Gabriel Scott turns every lighting apparatus into a luxury accessory. A new installation doesn’t merely showcase a space; carefully chosen ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps can create a mood, spotlight a favorite piece or highlight your unique personality.

The sparkle that your space has been missing is waiting for you amid the growing collection of antique, vintage and contemporary lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Questions About Blue Desk Lamps
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021
    The best desk lamp is a matter of preference — the right fixture can help you work more efficiently while also reducing eye strain. LED desk lamps in the 2700K to 4500K color temperature range often provide a warm and pleasing light under which to work. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and modern desk lamps from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2024

    No one knows for sure who invented the desk lamp, as many engineers worked on designs for lamps during the 1920s. Many experts cite the Anglepoise lamp, however, as the earliest iteration of the modern desk lamp. Since its 1934 debut, this ingenious task light has become one of the most celebrated examples of industrial design. 

    How the Anglepoise came to be is the stuff of design legend: In 1932, a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine joined forces with a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry & Sons, to create a mechanism by which opposed springs would, as Carwardine explained, exert a “unidirectional constant force” on a pivoted lever that could counteract the force of gravity.

    This invention was not destined for an auto but for a lamp Carwardine was developing. The innovation would allow the piece’s articulated arm to be moved with ease to almost any position and remain there. As the product of engineering acumen rather than fashion, the Anglepoise soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted it as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.”

    The Angelpoise's rivals include the 1930 Bestlite, which was one of the earliest Bauhaus-influenced designs, created by Robert Dudley Best, who had studied under Walter Gropius at the Bauhaus in Dessau. German modernist Karl Trabert’s 1930s desk lamp for Schanzenbach & Co. was notable for its domed shade above a hinged arm.

    Find vintage table lamps and other lighting on 1stDibs.

  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021
    A good desk lamp is going to make a substantial difference in any home, office or studio. The ideal desk lamp should provide apt task lighting, be easy to use, and also be aesthetically pleasing. Find a wide range of unique and elegant desk lamps on 1stDibs today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021
    There are many types of best LED desk lamps for your home — it's really a matter of preference. On 1stDibs, there are modern, mid-century modern desk lamps and other lighting to choose from.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The desk lamps with the green shade are called banker’s lamps. Banker’s lamps are green because it is believed the color helps to encourage concentration and is mentally soothing. It is also said that green helps with eye strain. You can shop a selection of banker’s lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    British designer George Carwardine designed the Anglepoise desk lamp. Before creating the light fixture, he worked as an engineer designing automobile suspension systems. The first Anglepoise lamps debuted in 1931. You can find a variety of Anglepoise desk lamps on 1stDibs.

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