Small Witch Hat Bedside Lamps by Louis Kalff, 1950s, Set of 2

About This Piece

Vintage Design

A pair of different color bedside lamps, small table lamps, made in the 50s, in the pastel colors of dark beige and gray-green that were typical of that time.

The “Witch Hat” lampshades are painted in shrink varnish. They can be tilted via a joint.

The lights are of high quality and detailed with various brass applications - the cover plate on the base, the lamp arm and the cylindrical decorative screw to hold the socket. The bases are painted white.
The lights each have an E14 socket.

Height 23cm
Diameter of shade 12 cm
Diameter base 10 cm

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* The cable of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise.

Creator	Louis Kalff
Design Period	1950 to 1959
Production Period	1950 to 1959
Identifying Marks	The style of the design is reminiscent of the designer and/or manufacturer
Style	Midcentury
Detailed Condition	Excellent — This vintage/antique piece is in near original condition. It may show minimal traces of use and/or have slight restorations.
	The vendor has confirmed this piece is in working order.
Plug Type	European Plug (up to 250V)
SKU	EY-232690
Restoration and Damage Details	Die Originallackierung weist geringe Spuren der Zeit auf: Der Lampenschirm der dunkel-beigen Leuchte zeigt am oberen Rand leichte Druckstellen und etwas Farbverlust.
Materials	Aluminum, Brass, Metal
Color	Gold, green, white, yellow
Height	23 cm 23 cm
Diameter	12 cm

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Germany
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Details

Delivery will be completed by a parcel service such as UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
You will receive a tracking number to monitor the status of your shipment.
Delivery will take place between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine the packaging upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damaged packaging, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note, take pictures, and—if the item inside shows damages—contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations regarding damaged packaging represents your acceptance of the completed order in perfect condition.

About the Creator

Louis Kalff

Dutch designer, art director, and architect Louis C. Kalff was born in Amsterdam in 1897. In 1916, he began architecture studies at the Technical University of Delft. As a student, he designed posters, banners, and costumes for school-related activities. In 1923, he interned for the architect D.F. Slothouwer. In December 1924, Kalff applied via letter to Anton Philips, president of Eindhoven-based light bulb and radio tube manufacturer Philips, asserting that the company’s advertising was not modern enough. On January 5, 1925, the 27-year-old Kalff joined Philips and was charged with the task of modernizing the company’s artistic and commercial advertising. In 1929, the Lighting Advisory Office (LIBU) was established under Kalff’s leadership to advise companies and architects in the field of lighting. In 1946, he was appointed Philips’ art director.

While at Philips, Kalff helped define the overall color, material, and form choices for a variety of projects. He also designed advertisements, branding, exhibitions, lighting, and various other products, including memorable pieces such as the curvy—as opposed to traditionally boxy—Chapel Radio (1931) and the Philips Philishave (1939); nicknamed “the cigar,” the latter was an electric shaver with a rotary system shaped like a Greek column with tapered sides. He also designed several architectural projects, including the Astronomical Observatory (1937, Eindhoven) and the spaceship-like Evoluon technology museum (1966, Eindhoven), which became a conference center in the 1990s. He also independently designed posters, book covers, as well as private homes and commercial buildings.

In 1958, Kalff initiated the Philips Pavilion at the Brussels World’s Fair. To demonstrate the company’s cutting-edge technology, he conceived a multimedia exhibition that featured an electronic poem (Le Poème Électronique) by Swiss architect Le Corbusier and music by French-American composer Edgard Varèse accompanied by a range of video and audio effects. Kalff retired in 1960, but remained active as a consultant and architect for Philips. He also lectured and, in 1941, wrote the book, Artificial Light and Architecture.

Kalff passed away in Waalre in 1976. In 2011, the Louis Kalff Instituut opened in the Regional Historical Center Eindhoven. It’s devoted to preserving and digitizing the archives of nationally important industrial designers for educational purposes.