Designed by George Nelson (1908-1986), one of America's most significant post-war modernist designers. According to Nelson (Stanley Abercrombie, George Nelson: the design of modern design, MIT Press, 1995, pp117-118) the design was inspired by Swedish, silk-covered lights and the technology was adapted from that developed by the navy to cover ships' decking. The light also has much in common with Japanese paper-covered light shades as adapted and popularised by the designer Isamu Noguchi in the mid-1960s.

The manufacture of the light, which was produced in several different shapes from about 1952, is attributed in relevant texts to the Howard Miller Clock Co., USA. However, this example bears the partly-decipherable label of 'Luna/r[?] / Lighting Fixtures', possibly the maker, distributor or retailer. No further information has been found on this company. The light was formed by spraying the self-webbing plastic skin over the metal framework.

The spherical version of the light was designed by Nelson in 1947 and the range of lights was manufactured from 1952 until the [1970s?].

The light was purchased about 1998 in America by the donor. No further provenance is available.

Light shade, 'Bubble Lamp', plastic / metal, designed by George Nelson / made by Howard Miller Clock Co, USA, 1947-1970s. Hanging light shade of flattened spherical form composed of two circular steel rings connected by steel ribs and covered in self-webbing plastic; the upper ring fitted internally with a tri-form metal insert for suspension cord attachment and externally bearing a label with the partly decipherable words 'Lunar [?] / Lighting Fixtures'.

Designed: Nelson, George; United States of America

Made: Howard Miller Clock Co; United States of America; 1947 - 1979


Owned: United States of America

Makers sticker on rim at top, rectangular silver sticker with black printed writting "[illeg.]....LIGHTING FIXTURES...[illeg.]"

2000/30/1

260 mm

620 mm