Wilhelm Wagenfeld – The Bauhaus Lamp

A lamp, designed in 1924 by Wilhelm Wagenfeld is probably the most characteristic lighting element of Bauhaus movement and that is why it's often called 'The Bauhaus Lamp'. It probably gained its popularity because of its timeless design and easily recognizable form. Its simple, geometrical shape (circular base, cylindrical shaft and spherical shade) embodies an essential idea which says that form follows function (promoted by the Bauhaus school). According to this motto, designer used the opaque glass shade which nicely diffuses the light. Previously, it was only used for industrial lightening.

Wagenfeld was 24 years old when he was admitted to Weimar Bauhaus workshop (school which was very much into using new materials and favored mass production rather than individual one). Here, he designed this piece of art as a solution to an assigment given to him by Moholy - Nagy. It was his first commercial product. From the beginning it was produced in two versions. One with metal base and the other one with glass base.

First lamps were produced in spring 1924 and many versions of them are still widely produced. One of the company which sales authentic, Wagenfeld's designs is called TECHNO LUMEN and it produces four versions of this famous lamp which are still believed to be icons of modern industrial design.