Space Age pendant lamp with granulated sphere, white, 55 cm, 1970s

A large Space Age pendant lamp from the 1970s, commonly referred to in the trade as a "Zuckerlampe" or "sugar ball lamp" in English. It owes its name to the spherical shade made of countless fused plastic granules, the surface of which is reminiscent of coarse sugar crystals or freshly fallen snow. 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 variants were subsequently produced in Italy and Germany in the late 1960s and 1970s. This piece bears no manufacturer's mark, so it is classified as a stylistic attribution.

With a sphere diameter of 55 cm, this lamp is one of the larger versions of this type, which are significantly rarer than the standard 30 to 40 cm spheres. The shade is topped by a shiny silver metal cap with circular ventilation holes; from there, the white pendant cable leads to a simple, cylindrical white canopy that houses the ceiling mount. When switched off, the sphere appears as a textured, cream-white object with a finely glittering surface; when switched on, the individual granules refract the light into countless tiny points of light, and the sphere glows with a warm, even, and glare-free radiance.

Whether hung over a dining table, in a high stairwell, in a hallway, or as a centerpiece in a living room, the large sphere unfolds its full effect, enriching a Mid-Century, Space Age, or Pop interior just as well as a contemporary, minimalist setting. The granulated shade shows the slightly cream-colored tone typical of the material; there are no cracks or missing sections. The sphere measures 55 cm in diameter, the total height including the ceiling mount and cable is 80 cm, and the lamp is in very good condition.