1 / 4
By Bill Curry

Stemlite Table Lamp

599 €

The Stemlite (1962) was the first ‘total look’ lamp, a pioneering new typology conceived by American Designer Bill Curry, which replaced the traditional base-plus-shade form with a single self-contained unit comprising interchangeable modules. His debut design, the much-emulated Stemlite, was named “most influential lamp of the year” by Industrial Design Magazine in 1965, used on the set of the original Star Trek TV series, and remained in pro- duction until 1977. Now remastered by GUBI after almost half a century, the new collection comprises two table lamps, two floor lamps and a new pendant – a simple inversion of the original design – in a contemporary yet authentic color palette. Today’s Stemlite remains true to Curry’s designs, comprising three of the original heights: two table heights, one of which was originally conceived as a floor lamp and the original floor lamp height. A second, taller floor lamp has been added and a pendant light has been engi- neered by simply flipping the original design upside-down. A counterweight has been hidden in the negative space created by the geometry of the foot of the upright lamps to meet con- temporary safety requirements regarding stability and versions of the floor and pendant lights with new larger globes are also available.

  • Lamp Base:Black Chrome
  • Shade Color:Frosted Glass
Size:H42 cm
ITEM NO: 10092407
    • Market Compliance:Europe e x . UK, AU-NZ
    • Design:Stemlite
    • Product Net Weight Kg:3.55
    • Gross Weight Kg:5.11
    • Gross Height Meter:0.595
    • Gross Length Meter:0.38
    • Gross Depth Meter:0.25
    • Lightbulb Socket:EU – E27 (Bulb not included)
    • Lumen Watt Recommended:470 Lumen (≤ 5W-6W LED Dimmable)
    • Lamp Height:42 cm
    • Lamp Stand:Ø18 cm
    • Shade Dimension:Ø32 cm
    • Cord Length:220 cm
    • Materials:Black Chrome/Frosted Glass

The Stemlite (1962) was the first ‘total look’ lamp, a pioneering new typology conceived by American Designer Bill Curry, which replaced the traditional base-plus-shade form with a single self-contained unit comprising interchangeable modules. His debut design, the much-emulated Stemlite, was named “most influential lamp of the year” by Industrial Design Magazine in 1965, used on the set of the original Star Trek TV series, and remained in pro- duction until 1977. Now remastered by GUBI after almost half a century, the new collection comprises two table lamps, two floor lamps and a new pendant – a simple inversion of the original design – in a contemporary yet authentic color palette. Today’s Stemlite remains true to Curry’s designs, comprising three of the original heights: two table heights, one of which was originally conceived as a floor lamp and the original floor lamp height. A second, taller floor lamp has been added and a pendant light has been engi- neered by simply flipping the original design upside-down. A counterweight has been hidden in the negative space created by the geometry of the foot of the upright lamps to meet con- temporary safety requirements regarding stability and versions of the floor and pendant lights with new larger globes are also available.

The ‘total look’ lamp.

 
 

EXPLORE THE COLLECTION

THE TULIP-STEM

 

 

The Stemlite was inspired by the strong, organic, yet slender stems that support flower heads in nature. It comprises a die-cast metal base, evocative of a tulip-stem, topped with a mouth–blown glass globe, and a simple cylinder-shaped rotary switch underneath that gently rolls between the fingers from “on” through “off”.

 

 

LEARN MORE

REFINED DESIGN

 

The Stemlite design concept originally offered 48 modular variants using the same components to configure floor, table, and wall lights, each pared back to their simplest and yet most visually compelling form – and was extended between 1966 and 1971 to include more heights, stems, glass globes, shades, bulb variants and colors. This flexible yet cohesive approach aligns with Curry’s strong conceptual skills, honed while working as an ad man and art director, and the power of contrasting materials he refined at Design Line.

BILL CURRY

 

 

American designer Bill Curry (1927-1971) captured the zeitgeist of the 1960s and ‘70s with his iconic lamp designs. From his unique Los Angeles vantage point at the meeting point of art, design and engineering, during an era defined by the space race, pop culture and a new forward-looking optimism, he translated the wonder and delight he saw around him into simple yet intelligent ideas with clear visual narratives.

 

 

MEET THE DESIGNER

STEMLITE COLLECTION

 

 

The Stemlite (1962) was the first ‘total look’ lamp, a pioneering new typology conceived by American Designer Bill Curry, which replaced the traditional base-plus-shade form with a single self-contained unit comprising interchangeable modules.

 

 

EXPLORE