One of the most famous industrial designers of the 20th century, the German designer Wilhelm Wagenfeld made several notable industrials designs for various appliances for the home. However, none of Wagenfeld’s designs would probably be as popular as that of the Wagenfeld Lampe.

First introduced in 1924, the Wagenfeld Lampe is a steel-and-glass table lamp consisting of a disc-shaped base, a long syndical stand, and a spherical glass lampshade. Wagenfeld designed the Lampe in collaboration with Karl Jacob Jucker during their studies at the Bauhaus design school in Weimar, Germany, and was based on a prototype design Wagenfeld submitted as a solution to an assignment given by his professor, the Hungarian artist Lazlo-Moholy Nagy. Because of its association with the famous Bahaus school, the Wagenfeld Lampe is also commonly known as the Bauhaus Lamp.

Currently two versions of the Wagenfeld Lampe are made. In the first version, the base and stand of the Wagenfeld Lampe is constructed from high-grade nickel-plated steel. Later reproductions of the Lampe have replaced the nickel coating with chromium, but the nickel-plated versions are more sought after because of the attractive yellowish patina the nickel gives off over time. On the other hand, in the second variation of the Wagenfeld Lampe both the base and stand are made from thick plate glass. The interior of the stand also features a nickel-plated inner tube which houses the electrical feed line for the bulb. Both versions, however, are fitted with an opalescent glass lampshade. In addition, the Wagenfeld Lampe also features a distinctive spout design for the pull cord. The pull cord, in turn, is made from fabric and attached to a metal ball at one end.

Currently the Wagenfeld Lampe is manufactured by Technolumen of Bremen, Germany. Technolumen acquired the rights to manufacture the Lampe from Wagenfeld in 1980, and remains as one of the company’s premier products.