Wilhelm Wagenfeld: Father of the Wagenfeld Lampe and other Modernist Furniture Icons


Since its inception in 1919, the Bahaus school in Weimar Germany has influenced modern architecture and design of the 20th century and produced master craftsmen and thinkers in the field of architecture, art, graphic design, and furniture. Once such prodigy and evangelist of the Bahaus school of design was Wilhelm Wagenfeld. Born on April 15, 1900 in Bremen, Germany, Wilhelm Wagenfeld is an industrial designer that was internationally renowned for his glass and metal works which he did under Jenaer Glaswerk Schott & Gen. and the Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke in Weißwasser. His works, which include the Wagenfeld Lampe, were innovative for its time and were highly popular pieces both for the home and art museums. A school was also named after him in Bremen, called the Wilhelm-Wagenfeld-Schule.

Probably Wilhelm Wagenfeld’s most famous work is the so-called Wagenfeld Lampe. Designed by Wagenfeld in collaboration with Karl Jucker during his studies at the Bahaus under renowned Hungarian artist-professor Lazlo Moholy-Nagy, the Wagenfeld Lampe was a hand-made table lamp designed with the concept of industrial products in mind. Because of this, the lamp was visually similar to that of industrial buildings and appliances and composed of glass and metal materials. The lamp’s stand was made out of clear tempered crystal glass or nickel-plated steel, the latter of the two being distinctively popular amongst collectors for its slightly-yellowish patina it acquires over time. The lamp’s shade, on the other hand, is comprised of an opaque opal white glass and a chrome-plated metal ring that supports the upper lampshade structure. In addition, the lamp features a specially-designed spout for the pull cord, which in turn is covered with black textile.

Despite his death in May 28, 1990, Wilhelm Wagenfeld’s is still considered to be an influential icon of the modernism style of design, with his works still highly sought after by collectors and modernist enthusiasts worldwide. Because of this demand, many Wagenfeld designs such as the Wagenfeld Lampe are being released are reproductions but with a few significant revisions. For example, most Wagenfeld Lamps reproductions sold nowadays are coated with chrome instead of the original nickel layer, as it is less expensive to produce and maintains a shiny silver-colored appearance. The cord is also now made up of specially-insulated electrical wiring, and the textile covering is made fire-proof. In addition, licensed Wagenfeld reproductions are compliant with electrical safety, energy consumption, and quality standards around the world.