Karl Wiedmann Table Lamp for WMF Ikora, Sphere Base with Internal Lighting, 1950s

Glowing table lamp made of WMF Ikora crystal, designed by Karl Wiedmann and executed in the Geislingen glassworks in the 1950s. The spherical base made of multi-layered flashed glass with interlayer decoration measures 35 cm in diameter, with a conical fabric shade the total height is 36 cm. Deep ruby tone, traversed by a fine amber-yellow vein network with melted-in bubbles — the unmistakable multi-layered decoration that Wiedmann made his signature from 1927. In daylight, the spherical base appears calm and rich, almost black-red. As soon as the light inside comes on, the glass opens up: warm orange floods through the network, the bubbles sparkle like small light nests between the layers.

The special feature of this piece lies in its completely preserved original assembly. The Bakelite switch bears the embossed WMF-Ikora factory logo and operates in four stages — off, shade, base, both together. An E27 double socket supplies the lamp base and fabric shade separately, allowing the piece to be used in various settings, from subtle reading light to a full staging moment. Chromed socket, shade ring and lower glass cuff, textile-covered connecting cable, conical fabric shade with gold braid trim at the top and bottom edge — all factory-made assembly, rarely found together to this extent in comparable Ikora lamps today.

Karl Wiedmann (1905–1992) took over the management of the WMF glassworks in 1925 and developed two of the most significant German art glass techniques of the 20th century there: the iridescent Myra crystal in 1926 and the multi-layered Ikora crystal a year later. By 1940, he had developed around 5,000 color recipes, thirty of which WMF patented. Glass production in Geislingen was finally discontinued in 1954 — pieces from the 1950s thus mark the last production window and are significantly rarer than the well-known pre-war works.

Collector's item for salon, library, bedroom or display case. Sculptural Mid-Century statement when switched off, theatrical light object as soon as the Bakelite switch is turned on. Fully functional, technically tested, very good vintage condition with completely preserved original assembly.