Table Lamp

Josef Hoffmann|Konrad Schindel

1904 · Silvered alpaka, glass, copper · Modern and Contemporary Art

Hoffmann designed this lamp when artificial light sources were shifting from gas to electric, which challenged designers to innovate in accordance with the new technology. Rather than putting shades around the bulbs, Hoffmann left the light source exposed. The suspended glass spheres echo the bulbs’ shape and draw further attention to the new technology as they catch and reflect the electric light.

Artist

Josef Hoffmann|Konrad Schindel

Date

1904

Medium

Silvered alpaka, glass, copper

Department

Modern and Contemporary Art

Credit line

Purchase, Lita Annenberg Hazen Charitable Trust Gift and The Cynthia Hazen Polsky Fund, 1997