Designer and architect Greta Magnusson Grossman first gained fame in her native Sweden, where she established her store and workshop and became the first woman to receive a prize for furniture design from the Swedish Society of Industrial Design. In 1940, she married jazz musician Billy Grossman and moved to Los Angeles.
Upon her arrival in Southern California, she opened the Magnusson Grossman Studio on Rodeo Drive and rapidly became popular among the Hollywood elite, including Greta Garbo and Gracie Allen.
In addition to creating iconic furniture and lighting — like the Grasshopper series for Barker Bros. or the Cobra lamp for Ralph O. Smith — Magnusson Grossman designed 14 homes in the Los Angeles area inspired by the Case Study Houses.
Combining her Scandinavian roots with laid-back West Coast style, Magnusson Grossman became a notable contributor to California modernism.
Find a range of vintage Greta Magnusson Grossman table lamps, floor lamps and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Jacques Biny Table Lamp, 1950
By Jacques Biny
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful brass table lamp by Jacques Biny with wonderful patina, adjustable at the hood and the off-white bakelite ball joint, wired for US standards, one E12 socket per fixture, ma...
Brass
Hillebrand Desk Lamp, Germany, 1960
By Hillebrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful table lamp by Hillebrand, Germany, 1960, in white and brass, on/off switch at the base, shade and arm are adjustable, wired for the US standards, one E27 socket, max. watta...
Metal, Brass
Louis Kalff 'Krähenfuss' Table Lamps, 1950
By Philips, Louis Christiaan Kalff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
elegant petite table lamp "Kraehenfuss" designed by Louis Kalff for Philips, 1950, with a cream colored conical shade that is held by a curved brass stem on an organically shaped bas...
Aluminum, Brass
Large Table Lamp by Paavo Tynell for Taito, 1950
By Paavo Tynell, Taito Oy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful early desk lamp model 5305 by Paavo Tynell for Taito, Finland, with a large articulate crème colored enameled shade and base, the shade is partially perforated and the bras...
Metal, 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 articulate light blue colored enameled shade and base, the shade is partially perforate...
Metal, Brass
Kaiser Desk Lamp by Christian Dell, 1950
By Kaiser Idell, Christian Dell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original ivory enameled steel desk/ task lamps model '6556' by Christian Dell for Kaiser Idell, with a curved pivoting arm and a broad dome shade, marked. Wired for US standards, one...
Metal, Steel
Greta Grossman Cobra Lamp for Ralph O. Smith
By Ralph O. Smith, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in San Francisco, CA
Greta Grossman Cobra lamp for Ralph O. Smith, Ca. The table lamp is nicknamed the Cobra lamp as it resembles a cobra’s hood. A flexible segme...
Steel
Greta Grossman Cobra Table Lamp for Ralph O. Smith
By Ralph O. Smith, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An award-winning 1948 design by Swedish-American Greta Grossman for Ralph O. Smith, a California-based lighting company. The lamp, colloquially known as the “Cobra” for its uniquely ...
Steel
Greta M. Grossman "Cobra" Table Lamp for Ralph O. Smith
By Ralph O. Smith, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The “Cobra” table lamp designed by Greta M. Grossman for Ralph O. Smith in the United States in 1948. A true icon of Mid-Century modern lighting design and winner of the MoMA Good De...
Brass, Steel, Aluminum, Chrome
1950s Polished Greta Grossman Original Cobra Table Lamp
By G. Ralph Smith, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Bensalem, PA
Polished metal original iconic Cobra lamp by Swedish designer Greta Magnusson Grossman was originally produced in the late 1940s (around 1948) and manufactured in the United States b...
Metal, Chrome
Rare Enameled Aluminum Cobra Table Lamp by Greta Magnusson Grossman
By Ralph O. Smith, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This lamp is a variant of the “Cobra” lamp which won the Good Design award in 1950 and was exhibited at the Good Design Show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. These lamps...
Aluminum, Steel
Greta M. Grossman Cobra Table Lamp Warm Grey for GUBI
By Gubi, Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in New York, NY
The authentic Cobra Table Lamp is of the most iconic designs by Greta M. Grossman. The table lamp was originally designed in the 1950s and takes its name from the shape of the oval s...
Steel
