In all respects mid-century lamp designers were concerned with space, both positive and negative, and the shadows and shapes formed from their pieces. From the atomic space age lamps of Louis Kalff for Philips, Greta Grossman, Gino Sarfatti or Pierre Gauriche, the lamps of the 1950s screamed of the excitement of space exploration incorporating tubular steel and pressed metal shades in atomic forms.
By the middle of the 20th Century the Dutch electronics firm Philips were keen to expand their reach into the lucrative home furnishing market. As such they asked their resident designer in Chief Louis Kalff to come up with some new designs which they could use........