Pair of Space Age table lamps with granulated globe, white, 1970s

A pair of Space Age table lamps from the 1970s, commonly referred to in the trade as "Zuckerlampen" or "sugar ball lamps"; the price is for both lamps together. They owe their name to the spherical shade made of countless fused plastic granules, the surface of which resembles coarse sugar crystals. The idea of the granulated spherical shade dates back to the "Sphere" lamp designed by John and Sylvia Reid for Rotaflex in the 1960s; numerous variations were subsequently produced in Italy and Germany during the late 1960s and 1970s, including by Erco. There is no manufacturer's mark on these pieces, so the classification is to be understood as a stylistic attribution.

The spheres and bases are made entirely of plastic: the shades sit on a round, glossy white plastic base with a stepped stem consisting of two cylindrical plastic elements in ivory, which gives the compact form an almost sculptural, typically pop-art silhouette. When switched off, the shade looks like a textured, cream-white object; when switched on, the individual granules refract the light into countless small points of light, and the sphere glows with a warm, uniform light without glare. Both lamps are operated via a cord switch and are identical in shape, color, and size, which has become rare for well-preserved pairs from this period.

As a pair, the lamps look their best when placed symmetrically to the left and right of a bed, at both ends of a sideboard, or on a windowsill, where they enrich a mid-century, space age, or pop interior as well as a contemporary setting with their atmospheric ambient light. The granulated spheres show the slightly cream-colored tone typical of the material; there are no cracks or missing parts. Each lamp measures 28 cm in height with a sphere diameter of 17 cm, and both are in very good condition.