W. H. Gispen (1890-1981)
was a Dutch decorative artist / industrial designer who had a large oeuvre to
his name. While stale pipe furniture is one of his most famous designs, his photometric
lamps are certainly as ingenious and interesting. Gispen's original designs are
still produced today.
Gispen was able to go from a
decorative artist to a functional designer in his own factory. In the twenties,
his produce became more businesslike and functional. 1926 saw the beginning of
an extensive series of lamps to which, in 1927, the brand Giso was attached. Their
fixtures, with the "glass balloons" that were covered with opal, adhered (and
still adhere) to the photometric, economic and aesthetic demands. The Bauhaus lamps
were launched on the market around the same time and Gispen used them to mirror
his own designs. Standardization of the design insured, among other things,
that mutual combinations of parts were possible. A plenitude of materials were
offered (and are still offered); from brown bronzed, black bronzed, matte
nickel-plated, polished nickel-plated to chromed copper. Even the choice of
glass became more distinct; matte or glossy opal covered glass for chalices,
bowls and spheres. Gispen assembled the lamps in his factory. Factories in London and Brussels
were authorized to produce Giso glass.
Famous Gispen orignals: Pendant lamp Saturn, Luxurious Pointed Gispen, Pendant lamp 2076, the
Sonneveld lamp, Floor lamp 65 and the Gentleman's desk lamp.
A certificate is delivered
with each original Gispen Lamp.
