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About the Item
This is an original Modernist Table lamp produced in the 1930s by a Czech Company Napako. It was designed by Carl Jucker, who later became famous for his design of the now iconic table lamp (in collaboration with Wilhem Wagenfeld). This collaboration took place when he was a student at Bauhaus in the studio of legendary Lszl Moholy-Nagy.
The lamp itself is quite small and low. The main design feature is the steel lampshade. Its lampshade is somehow similar to the shape of the British army helmets of the WW1. This lampshade can be adjusted up and down and has a c shaped steel rod which is fixed to the flat circular metal base that also holds an off/on switch.
The good original vintage condition shows minor natural wear to the polished steel. On some parts of the lampshade, the piece has acquired a patina which adds unique charm and character. The inside of the lampshade was painted white for better light reflection; this surface remains in very good condition with some small wear. There is a new cable with the plug socket which is in the style of the authentic design. The on/off button and the bulb holder are original and the lamp is fully functional.Creator: Napako (Manufacturer),Carl J. Jucker (Designer)Dimensions: Height: 3.94 in (10 cm)Width: 7.09 in (18 cm)Depth: 9.45 in (24 cm)Power Source: Plug-inVoltage: 220-240vLampshade: IncludedStyle: Bauhaus (In the Style Of)Materials and Techniques: Metal,Steel,Cast,OtherPlace of Origin: Czech RepublicPeriod: 1930-1939Date of Manufacture: Circa 1930Condition: GoodRewired: There is a new cable with the plug socket which is in the style of the authentic design.440. Wear consistent with age and use.Seller Location: Brno, CZReference Number: 1stDibs: LU6290239274632Shop All Napako
Napako
Napako was initially established in 1919 in Prague with the purpose of helping private companies with metalworking solutions for building projects. The Czech manufacturer later pivoted to producing appliances and lighting, a change that yielded partnerships with esteemed designers such as electrician and furniture maker Josef Hurka and Miroslav Prokop between the 1930s and 1970s.
Napakos chrome-plated desk lamps and flush mounts were often characterized by the influence of the Bauhaus, a progressive German design school that promoted a union of art, craft and technology. Many of the brands interesting lighting fixtures incorporated milk glass and opaline glass and later featured venturesome forms and lacquered metal housings in lively Pop art colors. Today vintage Napako table lamps, floor lamps and chandeliers are rare and highly collectible works of Space Age and mid-century modernist ingenuity.
Hurka and Helena Frantov were the superstars on Napakos roster of designers. Initially an electrical appliance designer, Hurka changed course to work on lighting design after Napako discontinued its production of appliances.
For much of the 20th century, industrial and furniture designers in the Eastern Bloc created their work in near anonymity including in the former Czechoslovakia, where communist ideologies ran counter to capitalist ideas like branding and acclaim.
Although for a brief and shining moment, in 1958, the countrys designers gained global renown when Czechoslovakia won best national pavilion at the Brussels Worlds Fair, their artistry was soon shrouded again behind the Iron Curtain.
Hurkas table lamps for Napako were presented as part of the prize-winning Czech Pavilion at the 1958 World Expo in Brussels, which was the first Worlds Fair after World War II. Frantov frequently created torch-shaped table lamps with spindly bodies in chromed steel or brass for the likes of Okolo as well as Napako.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Napako lighting.
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