Ten table lamps that shine a light on form, materiality and technique in lighting design

Whether it's an expansive living room, a cosy bedroom, or a lively outdoor café, ambient lighting is crucial for boosting the ambience of any setting. It refers to the all-encompassing, delicate lighting that produces a warm and welcoming environment without producing harsh shadows or extreme brightness. Ambient lighting is a potent tool for manipulating moods and evoking feelings within spaces, regardless of whether it is utilised stand-alone, or in combination with other types of lighting sources. One such versatile and seamlessly adaptable ambient lighting is a table lamp, producing a cosy and friendly ambience when placed thoughtfully in various locations, including side tables, sideboards, or study desks. Table lamps may adroitly complement any interior design setting, whether it be contemporary or traditional, owing to the wide range of shapes, sizes, and styles that are available in. They can add to existing lighting fixtures or serve as the main source of light in smaller spaces, owing to their adaptability.

From abstract and playful table lamps to those that explore form and materiality, STIR curates a list of 10 table lamps that can illuminate spaces with warmth and intrigue.

1. Corner Triangle by Hot Wire Extensions

The Simulations Series that the 'Corner Triangle' table lamp is a part of, demonstrates how the Hot Wire Extension's method may be integrated with found objects and eclectic components. The table lamp design revitalises and recontextualises waste materials in surprisingly referential bricolages, using these materials or ready-made ones, all of which may be found near the studio. It draws attention to how we glance at and perceive our natural world by highlighting the connections between the natural and the artificial.

2. Airbloom by Luca Nichetto Studio

The 'Airbloom' table lamp's sense of weightlessness conceals its porcelain construction, reminiscing balloon art and other deftly hand-blown works. Luca Nichetto Studio produced an amusing yet practical device with an unexpected aspect, by drawing inspiration from the light construction of such items. The oval-shaped stem is carved with elaborate patterns that perfectly capture the skill and essence of porcelain art. These patterns are reminiscent of the summer's inflatable pool loungers, with its spherical top's woven effect giving off a warm glow, illuminating the space with a soft, sophisticated light.

3. FUWAS Alabaster by Setsu & Shinobu Ito Design

Made of alabaster, the 'FUWAS' lamp by Setsu & Shinobu Ito Design, is a product design fitted with eyes that mimic the material's natural vision. Alabaster is a naturally occurring substance with a specific weight; the light emerges from space with its delicacy like a cloud. When the light is turned off, it appears to be made of marble, but as the light leaks through the surface, it appears to be made of paper.

4. Teresa table lamp by Kartell

Kartell introduces a brand-new lighting design to the industry through their 'Teresa' table lamp—a generously proportioned lamp that appears to spread its petals in a warm welcome, this is a new development in the field of industrial lighting design, as an exploration of fresh design concepts and ambitious industrial moulding techniques that enable the production of intriguing new curves and volumes.

5. Lucente table lamp by Visionnaire

'Lucente' is Gupica Studios' latest lighting design for Visionnaire. With a collection inspired by the way light bends and reflects off the faceted surfaces of precious stones, creating evocative lighting effects, the light-diffusing bodies of the lamps, which have elegant yet simple forms and resemble coloured gemstones, have been made from a secondary raw material obtained from the recycling of PMMA, also known as Plexiglass, which is then given an entirely new appearance. The opaque LED light source emits a diffused beam of light that radiates in the space with a dynamic chromatic spectrum, bringing forth transparency and colours as it passes through the stones.

6. Aurizia by Laurameroni Design Collection

'Aurizia' is a table lamp with a Banaca fibre lampshade in the shape of a blossoming flower and a hardwood base inlaid with rye straw inlay. Table lamps by the Laurameroni Design Collection are genuine works of art that offer a fresh perspective on the luminary object and foster a welcoming environment. The lamp design highlights the ability of craftsmen from the Brianza area in Italy, which Laurameroni has always been fascinated by.

7. Stellar Nebula Table Lamp by Artemide

The Bjarke Ingels Group created the 'Stellar Nebula' line of lamps for Artemide, to interpret and improve handmade blown glass with cutting-edge PVD finishing processes. This project idea, which seeks to address industrial uniqueness, is centred on the values, functions, and limitations of industrial and artisanal production. The hand-blown diffusers always have distinctive shapes. Thus, the beauty of the material that accentuates the entrancing interaction between glass and light combines industrial ingenuity and artisanal expertise.

8. SAMMANLÄNKAD table lamp by IKEA

The 'SAMMANLÄNKAD' solar-powered, LED table lamp by IKEA was inspired by the sun and the earth's orbital tilt in relation to it. A half-sphere serves as the light source, becoming stronger by the reflection of a mirror to imitate the sun. The light source is kept inside the lamp's adjustable metal frame, which also allows it to be used as a table lamp or pendant. The light source can also be removed from the stand and used as a torch. With the 'SAMMANLÄNKAD' table lamp, the goal was to visually enhance the home with a piece of our solar system through the use of a gyroscope design.

9. I am not a robot table lamps by Jaro Kose

The lighting design components for the I am not a robot table lamps are made from heated recycled PLA filament. Each piece in the collection has a unique structure. Utilising a heating technique similar to what is used in 3D printing, all of the pieces are made from recycled PLA filament, bent and welded without the need for a 3D printer.

10. Fold lighting collection by Nortstudio

Simply cutting and folding a thin metal sheet led to the creation of the Fold collection of lamp designs by Nortstudio. Each lamp is made up of two sections that are of different colours, allowing the light source to reflect numerous hues of light when positioned in different ways. With the same design, myriad moods can be achieved by the interaction of graphic components and colour.

Text by Ria Jha