Though Robert Sonneman was quite literally born into the lighting business, it took working for another celebrated lighting maker for him to land upon the kind of boundary-pushing modernism for which the New York–based designer is known today.
At the age of 19, fresh off a stint in the U.S. Navy, Sonneman responded to an ad for a position working in the studio of George Kovacs on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where he became the sole employee. “Although my parents were in the lighting business, they came from a traditional perspective, and Kovacs introduced me to modernism,” Sonneman once said. “It was 1961, and I was immediately captured by the movement.”
While working for Kovacs, Sonneman became captivated by the work of the Bauhaus, and he began experimenting with the influential art and design school’s ideas of functional simplicity in lighting. In 1967, he opened his own studio.
Though Sonneman Design Group produced furniture for a brief time, the designer eventually elected to focus on the one category that had always fascinated him; the brand became known for its floor lamps, sconces, pendants and chandeliers that feature unconventional treatments toward shape and balance, often inspired by modern architecture. Sonneman once said of his work: “I saw the lamps that I built as lighting machines that glorified the industrial aesthetic.”
Indeed, in the spirit of Bauhaus functionality — Sonneman has also cited Mies van der Rohe as being an inspiration — the designer’s work takes function-centric forms and motifs and elevates them while prioritizing technology. This spirit of forward thinking continues today, as Sonneman’s brand, renamed SONNEMAN – A Way of Light in 2003, works with LED bulbs to continue to push the boundaries of what functional lighting can achieve aesthetically.
Current-day releases by SONNEMAN – A Way of Light (still overseen by Sonneman himself) feature 95 percent LED lights and include interior and exterior lighting as well as modular suspended lights as an alternative to track lighting. Sonneman’s vintage pieces, however, are still widely collected on the secondary market.
Find vintage Robert Sonneman lighting on 1stDibs.
Vintage Brass Saturn Table Lamp, Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, 1980
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in San Carlos, CA
Vintage Brass "Saturn" Table Lamp by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, United States, circa 1980 A definitive example of American postmodern lighting design. Robert Sonneman's "Sat...
Brass
Vintage Mid-Century Brass Gooseneck Desk Lamp with Milk Glass Shade, circa 1960
Located in San Carlos, CA
A refined example of American mid-century task lighting, this brass gooseneck desk lamp combines functional elegance with timeless modernist appeal. The weighted circular base anchor...
Brass
Vintage Chrome Pharmacy Floor Lamp Mid-Century Modern Adjustable 1970s
By Koch & Lowy
Located in San Carlos, CA
A sleek and sculptural chrome pharmacy floor lamp in the manner of Koch & Lowy, dating to the 1970s. This exemplary piece of American modernist design features all the hallmarks of t...
Chrome
1990's Thomas O'Brien Vintage Modern Black and Chrome Task Lamp
By Thomas O'brien
Located in San Carlos, CA
Discover the epitome of contemporary design with our exquisite floor lamp from the renowned designer, Thomas O'Brien. This stunning piece hails from O'Brien's exclusive "Vintage Mode...
Metal, Chrome
Vintage Modern Frederick Cooper Brass Adjustable Pharmacy Desk Lamp, Chicago
By Frederick Cooper
Located in San Carlos, CA
A vintage brass pharmacy-style desk lamp by Frederick Cooper, Chicago — a maker known since 1923 for well-crafted lighting with a distinct modernist edge. This example features a wei...
Brass
Hollywood Regency Floor Lamp, Glass & Brass, Italian Design, 1980s
Located in San Carlos, CA
🌟 Stunning 1980's Hollywood Regency Floor Lamp for Sale! 🌟 Elevate your space with this exquisite Hollywood Regency style floor lamp, reminiscent of vintage glamour and sophistica...
Brass
Table / Desk Lamp by Paolo Caliari for Linea T, Italy, 1970s
By Paolo Caliari
Located in DE KWAKEL, NL
Designed by Paolo Caliari for Linea T Milano in the 1970s, this elegant desk lamp captures the refined technical aesthetic that defined Italian industrial design during the decade. T...
Metal, Aluminum
White Flash Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for O-Luce, 1970s
By Joe Colombo, O-Luce
Located in Rotterdam, NL
White table lamp model Flash designed by Joe Colombo for O-Luce reflects the innovative spirit of its creator. It was inspired by the flash lights used for photo cameras. The heavy ...
Metal
Vintage White Table Lamp by Veneta Lumi, Mid-Century Modern, Italy
By Veneta Lumi
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Stunning original vintage white table lamp design made in Italy by Veneta Lumi. The lamp works perfectly and is in excellent condition. A true piece of modern art. Dimensions: ...
Metal
1980s 'Work-Sun' Halogen Desk Lamp by Eurolicht, IF Award 1983
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The 'Work-Sun' desk lamp by Eurolicht is built from flat white enameled metal panels folded and fabricated into a bold geometric form. The profile presents as a squared vertical colu...
Metal, Enamel
Synthesis Table Lamp by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, 1970s
By Ernesto Gismondi
Located in toronto, CA
Italian designer and engineer Ernesto Gismondi is widely recognized for his significant contributions to the field of Italian lighting design through his involvement with Artemide, a renowned lighting company that he co-founded in 1960. Gismondi, born in 1931 in San Remo, pursued his academic studies in Aeronautical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Milan. He successfully completed his degree in 1957 and further expanded his knowledge by obtaining a second degree in Missile Engineering from the Professional School of Engineering in Rome in 1959. In collaboration with engineer and designer Sergio Mazza, who was born in Milan in 1931, Gismondi established Artemide with the vision of creating timeless and technologically innovative products. As the co-founders, they both played instrumental roles in shaping Artemide's evolving product lines over the following decades. They also led the company's mission to develop unique and architecturally-inspired lamps, pendants, and other fixtures by collaborating with prominent design talents from across the globe. Notable among Gismondi's designs for Artemide are the Sintesi Series (1976), encompassing table lamps, floor lamps, clamp lamps, and sconces, along with the Tholos Wall Lamp (1979), the Tebe Floor Lamp (1970s), and the Zen Floor Lamp...
Aluminum, Steel
Italian Midcentury Plastic White Table Lamp, 1960s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern design plastic white table lamp, Italy 1970s. Please note that the lamp is original of the period and this shows normal signs of age and use.
Metal
