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.
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 34 in W 13 in D 13 in
Modern Chrome 12 Light Table Lamp In The Manner Of Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Chicago, IL
Chrome six arm, twelve light, modern table lamp in the manner of Robert Sonneman designed table lamps. Six chrome cylinders are connected to the chromed center rod, with upper and lo...
Chrome, Steel
Robert Sonneman Style Tri-Globe Table Accent Lamp in Chrome
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Stamford, CT
Over the decades, lighting design has evolved into a form of art and sculpture, producing creations that are as visually striking as they are functional. This fusion was especially p...
Chrome
$1,235Sale Price|35% Off
H 18 in W 6 in D 6 in
Rare Robert Sonneman Chrome Small Table Lamp! Iconic Mid Century Lighting 1960s
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Peoria, AZ
SONNEMAN! MID CENTURY MODERN ATOMIC AGE CHROME TOWERS SMALL TABLE LAMP! ICONIC! EPIC DESIGN! CIRCA 1967 DIMENSIONS: HEIGHT 18" This super rare chrome table lamp is one of the most coveted Sonneman lamp designs and made its first appearance in the late sixties. It features five chrome arms emerging from a double tier chrome base. The design is very elegant and yet eye-popping! This small Sonneman design is one of the hardest to obtain and decorators snap them up when they find them in the marketplace! It's timeless interior sophistication! This monumental lamp looks absolutely amazing! This piece is a show-stopper! Great mid century lighting...
Metal, Chrome
$1,800
H 36 in W 15 in D 13 in
Unusual Six Globe Chrome Disc Mid Century Modern Table Lamp Symmetrical
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Unusual Mid-Century Modern six globe table lamp.
Chrome
$650
H 38 in W 19 in D 19 in
Vintage Mid Century Modern Chrome Space Age 5 Light Sculptural Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern Chrome Space Age 5 Light Sculptural Table Lamp with Dimmer Switch. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 38" H x 19" W x 19" D. {3-Way (No)}, Location: Se...
Chrome
Robert Sonneman Sputnik Space Age Chrome Orb Table Lamp
By Robert Sonneman, Lightolier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Polished Chrome, Glass Light Bulbs ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and...
Chrome
Vintage 1970s Space Age 3 Head Chrome Table Lamp
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A vintage 1970s space age chrome table lamp. This is a lovely table lamp with a classic mid century design, taking inspiration from the designs of Sonneman. This lamp features an all...
Chrome
Vintage Space Age Glass & Metal Table Lamp, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
This is an imposing space age table lamp with six glass balls. The diffuser 6 balls made of opal glass are arranged at different heights radially around the central foot. The chrome-...
Metal
$2,400Sale Price|27% Off
H 33 in W 10 in D 10 in
Robert Sonneman Chrome Atom Table Lamp! Space Age Eyeball Lighting 1960s Decor
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Peoria, AZ
SONNEMAN! SPACE AGE! CHROME TOWER "MOLECULE" TABLE LAMP! ICONIC! GREAT DESIGN! ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! CIRCA 1967 DIMENSIONS: HEIGHT 33 " This super rare Sonneman chrome table lamp...
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Style Aluminum Multi-Armed Table Lamp
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Single aluminum table lamp with black enameled metal details and integrated switch at base. Light bulbs not included.
Aluminum
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Vintage Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Astoria, NY
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Floor Lamp, with geometric white enameled shade. 49.75" H x 8.25" W x 5.75" D. Provenance: The Morningside Heights Estate of an Academic.
Metal, Enamel
Bill Curry for Design Line "Stemlite" Table Lamp, 1960s
By Bill Curry, Design Line
Located in Astoria, NY
Bill Curry for Design Line "Stemlite" Table Lamp, 1960s, with white glass globe shade atop a tulip base, paper label to underside. 15" H x 9" Diameter. Provenance: From an East 86t...
Metal
Pair of Modernist Chrome Plated Table Lamps with Dimmer
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Modernist Chrome Plated Table Lamps, each with columnar support and dial dimmer on circular base. 24" H x 9" Diameter. Provenance: From a 230 Central Park South Private ...
Chrome
Karl Springer Vintage Acrylic Greek Column Table Lamp, 1980s
Located in Astoria, NY
Karl Springer Acrylic Greek Column Table Lamp. 28" H x 6" W x 6" D. Provenance: From the Estate of American Fashion Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue (1971-1988) Grace Mirabe...
Brass
Max Ingrand Table Lamp for Fontana Arte, Brass and Glass, Italy, 1960s
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Astoria, NY
Max Ingrand (French, 1908-1969) for Fontana Arte Model 2278, Brass and Glass Table Lamp, 1960s. 20.25" H x 16.5" Diameter. Provenance: From a One Central Park West Estate.
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Chrome Swing-Arm Table Lamp, White Linen Shade
Located in Astoria, NY
Mid-Century Modern Chrome Swing-Arm Table Lamp, with two bulb fittings and an Artemis Studios white linen shade. Arm fully extended: 17.5" H x 26" W x 15" D. Provenance: An East 87...
Chrome
