Jeeves & Wooster were characters identified with their bowler and top hats. Both fixtures are made from genuine handmade wool bowler and top hats, respectively. The interior of the hat is anodized aluminum in a gold finish. Both lights were designed by Jake Phipps for Innermost and are available through 2Jane. Jeeves $242 and Wooster $268.
Verner Panton was one of Denmark’s most influential and prolific designers. His furniture, lighting, textile and interior designs were innovative and futuristic. His designs were executed in a variety of materials, notably plastic in vibrant colors. He passed away in 1988 but appreciation for his work has remained strong.
SUITE New York is offering an extensive collection of Verner Panton Lighting. Shown above are Onion, Ball, Fun, UFO, Spiral and VP Globe. Several of the lights are available in a number of finishes from metal to Plastic to Mother of pearl and as pendants and lamps. Contact SUITE New York for more information.
lite2go is a innovative design in which the packaging is the product. The 10×10x11 inch light comes flat packed in its own shade. Follow some simple instructions and in a few minutes, you have assembled a great little lamp. Powered by a 7watt energy efficient compact flourescent bulb, even the instructions are printed on recycled paper. At about $65 each, this is a pretty cool little piece. See the Movie.
Over the past few years, Poland has unleashed some really intriguing design. The likes of Moho, Com 40, Iker and Noti have gained recognition via design awards from Red Dot, Elle Decoration and Wallpaper. So what sparked this creative burst?
In the 1980’s recession paired with political crisis resulted in a melt-down of the of national design institutions in Poland. Designer’s were in a “survival of the fittest” mode which was clearly failing. Then after 2000, a resurgence of the design community came in the form of a quarterly publication 2+3D and the establishment of The Adam Mickiewicz Institute for the promotion of Polish culture abroad. In 2005 The Siliesian Castle of Art and Enterprise was established by the local government as a regional design center and the state-owned Institute of Industrial Design was revived to promote design via research and development, promotion and consultation.
A group of Polish designers including Tomasz Augustyniak, Piotr Kuchcinski, Jerzy Langier and Renata Kalarus have risen to the challenge, and then some. Their works are inspired by traditional Polish motifs and techniques such as the Moho Dia Felt Rug or by contemporary industrial themes as in Augustyniak’s Mono Chaise for com 40. Puff Buff lamps by Anna Siedlecka and Radek Archamowicz explore materiality and scale.
Many of these companies are very young – 5 to 8 years in existence. As a group, these pieces feel genuine, uncalculated. Maybe there is a silver lining to every cloud – the failure of an old system gives rise to highly charged creativity and innovation. Something to think about.
Karkula will be home to flagship stores for Paola Lenti and Oluce. Paola Lenti is an Italian furniture and rug company which was founded about 14 years ago. The collection is modern with particular emphasis on textiles. The upholstery or covering is not a finish, it is a completely integrated, significant design element. The combination of natural and manufactured materials are used to create durable, resistant and creative furniture and floor coverings. Paola Lenti pieces definitely have a look of their own.
Oluce Lighting, on the other hand, has been around since 1945. The claim is that it is the oldest Italian Lighting Design Company that is “..still active today..”. Oluce has a very rich design history with lights by Tito Agnoli, Joe Colombo, Vico Magistretti, Maiko Watanable and many more.
Designed in 1937 by Salvador Dali, The Muletas and Cajones lamps. Dali ventured out beyond painting to apply his artistry to various disciplines. In Paris in the 1930’s, he worked with Jean-Michel Frank and others to design pieces such as lamps, mirrors, door hardware, plumbing fixtures and furnishings that he used in his own home and in other design projects. The pieces, not surprisingly, are surreal and ultra dramatic.
b.d. Barcelona Design is commemorating the 20th anniversary of Dali’s death in 2009 by offering some of his designs in a limited edition run. The Muletas, and Cajones lamps are being produced in black - black dyed lime wood and handmade black linen lamp shades.
This is an awesome light designed by Marc Sadler in 2006 for Foscarini, Italy. A floorlamp made from a flexible composite that allows the gentle curve of the support column. A system of counterweights allows you to position the shade height. The lamp height is also adjustable. The shade is approximately 18″ in diamter and 11″ high. This lamp is usually over $2000, so this is a pretty incredible deal. This is a floor model, so there is only one at this price. @ Property, NYC.
Gummi Lights – that’s right, a little light that looks just like your favorite candy. What’s more, these guys are made of a soft rubbery material, so they are true to their inspiration. They are about 7″ high by 4″ wide and come in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink and clear. There is no cord because they are powered by three lithium batteries that last about 20 hours.
So this got me thinking, where did Gummi Bears come from anyway? German Hans Riegel, owner of candy company Haribo, invented Gummi Bears in the 1920’s. Unbelievably it took until 1982 for Haribo to begin manufacturing the bears in the US. I’ll bet he never expected his little guys to end up as icons with their own cartoon, vitamins and lights. @Property, NYC
Lotus Flower Hanging Lamp is made from individually, hand cut capiz shells that have been edged in silver. The pendant comes in either white or smoke shells and is available in three sizes: 13″, 19″ or 21″ Diameter. The fixture takes a 100 watt bulb. Not only is it simply pretty, it is pretty well priced starting at $680. @ Room, NYC.
