Cover photo: Ingo Maurer, Butterflies Dreaming
The incandescent light bulb revolutionized the world. It is no coincidence that, in comics and popular culture, it is a symbol of a brilliant idea. Invented by Thomas Edison in 1879, it brought light wherever electricity was available. Its profile, with its pure and delicate curved lines, is a masterpiece of symmetry and minimalism. Its performance has been surpassed by “modern” light sources, above all the LED, but its profile has not been forgotten. So much so that the market is full of so-called retrofit bulbs, featuring a traditional shape and a technological core.
Over time, the shape of the light bulb has inspired designers and creatives. There are various designer lamps—timeless classics or more recent models—that echo the silhouette of the incandescent bulb, playing with irony and references. And there are also countless designs that transform the light bulb into the star of the show, without hiding it behind a lampshade.
Edison’s Nightmare by Davide Groppi
Irony and nostalgia are at the heart of this wall sconce, designed by Harry Thaler for Piacenza-based Davide Groppi. “Amid a thousand twists and turns, bans, and absurd technical regulations, we have reached the end,” reads the brand’s website, in a tribute to the incandescent light bulb, officially “outlawed” since 2012. And so Edison’s Nightmare, the scientist’s nightmare, nails the bulb to the wall, marking the end of its public utility while elevating it to a work of art.
Lampadina by Flos
Designed by the brilliant Achille Castiglioni for the opening of the Flos store in Turin in 1972, this table lamp has become one of the brand’s longest-running bestsellers. The anodized aluminum base, reminiscent of film reels, allows the electric cord to be wound around it and incorporates the on-off switch. The oversized bulb features a sandblasted spherical section to prevent glare.
B.Bulb by Ingo Maurer
An evolution of Ingo Maurer’s 1966 “classic,” the new B-Bulb is a small, compact battery-powered lamp that recharges via a USB cable. The base, which mimics the E14 bulb socket, is made of polished chrome-plated metal, while the bulb is crafted from hand-blown Murano glass.
Teti by Artemide
Designed by Vico Magistretti in 1970 to be used as a micro-ceiling light or a wall sconce, it has remained in the Artemide catalog ever since. Made of white, orange, gray, or transparent thermoplastic, it is so discreet that it lets the light bulb—now a retrofit LED—take center stage, screwing into the integrated socket.
Monkey and Mouse Lamps by Seletti
The irreverent Marcantonio has designed a range of animal-shaped lamps for Seletti that hold light bulbs in their paws. Among them are monkeys and mice.
Birillo by Mazzega
Beloved by collectors and long out of production, it was designed by Carlo Nason in the 1970s. From the base up, Birillo consists of two Murano glass parts, one colored and the other satin-finished, reminiscent of a light bulb.
Block Lamp by Design House Stockholm
Designed by Harri Koskinen for Design House Stockholm, this table lamp resembles a block of ice with a “frozen” light bulb inside.
Bulb Tube, Buster+Punch
A light bulb with a contemporary appeal, this pendant lamp from the London-based brand Buster+Punch is an elongated light tube that emits a warm glow, similar to that of candles.
