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For minimalists looking for a sleek, low-profile design, take a look at the 'Contour,' an open framework lit by a halo of LEDs. A unique design from Pablo Pardo of Venezuela that is available at ylighting.com.
Have a special lighting challenge? For instance, many original MCM homes have a limited number of electrical outlets, and even more limited options for hard-wiring ceiling lamps and interior wall sconces. A floor lamp can be your best bet when considering the best ways to address such challenges.
Today, improved insulation has replaced the cloth-covered wiring that was used in many vintage lamps. And energy-efficient LED bulbs have replaced incandescents and fluorescents with updated LEDs that are dimmable and available in warmer whites. At the tap of a floor switch, lamps can toggle from ambient to directional task lighting, leaving your hands free for other tasks.
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Modern floor lamps have other conveniences too, "ranging from USB charging outlets, to full-range dimmers, to more heat-resistant wiring and better-grounded plugs," says Hardy, cautioning that many also tend to be less stable than vintage lamps as they are lightweight, designed to be disassembled, and packed away for shipping.
Included in our 'Illuminating Icons' line-up is 'Tullio,' from Practical Props' inventory at practicalprops.com. It's a geometric-style tri-pod floor lamp with a textured beige linen lampshade. "The great thing about tri-pod-style floor lamps is that they're easy to fit around other objects in a room," says Hardy, "making them perfect for tucking in a tight corner or behind other furniture."
One of the most striking modern lamps of all time is the aesthetically pleasing 'Arco,' an iconic 1960s lighting design that has been reproduced all over the world. Anchored by a 142-pound base constructed of Carrara marble, its stainless-steel arm gracefully cantilevers to illuminate a precise lighting area. Available from interioricons.com.
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Another exquisite classic that lives up to its name is the 'Akari,' designed in the 1950s by distinguished Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi. 'Akari' is a term that is meant to combine 'light as illumination' with weightlessness, and the result is a softly, glowing paper lantern made from high-quality mulberry bark suspended over a wire tripod base. It's a lamp that is the essence of 'functional art.' Available from vakkerlighting.com.
We hope you'll enjoy perusing the wide range of options and discovering the right lamp for you in 'Illuminating Icons,' featured here as a PDF version, and also as a print version in CA-Modern's Winter '22 issue.