Wilhelm Wagenfeld (1900 - 1990) is considered the first German industrial designer and one of the most famous pioneers of the Bauhaus. Born in Bremen, he originally wanted to become a painter. However, since his parents wanted a solid profession for him, he first did an apprenticeship in the drawing office of a silver factory. He also attended the Bremen School of Arts and Crafts, where he took courses in lettering and drawing. After training as a silversmith, he was accepted as a journeyman silversmith at the Bauhaus at the age of 23, where he designed what is probably his most famous lamp, the Wagenfeld Lamp.
Wagenfeld lamps and luminaires
"To shape is to find the right usefulness." Wilhelm Wagenfeld, designer of the lamp
Tecnolumen Wagenfeld Bestsellers
Wagenfeld lamps – functional lighting in the Bauhaus style
It all began in 1923 at the Bauhaus: at that time, László Moholoy-Nagy, at that time the form master of the metal workshop, gave his student Wilhelm Wagenfeld the task of producing a table lamp made of glass and metal. The result can be found 100 years later as a legendary light and design object in countless homes and museums.
Today, the Wagenfeld lamp is produced by Tecnolumen - the only manufacturer licensed to re-produce it. The design of the lamp remains unchanged a century later: The central element is the dome-shaped mouth-blown opal glass shade through which the light gently diffuses in all directions. A slender lamp rod and a round base - made of glass or metal, depending on the model - complete the functional design.
Probably the most prominent Wagenfeld lamp is the WG 24 with its shade, base and stem made of mouth-blown glass. By the way, the name of the table lamp stands for the abbreviation of Wagenfeld as well as the year of origin of the lamp.
Besides the Wagenfeld lamps with characteristic glass shade, you can also find variants with cardboard shade. Furthermore, you will discover spare parts for different models of the Wagenfeld lamp. So if a component of your lamp no longer functions properly over time, you can simply replace your table lamp.
Wilhelm Wagenfeld – the career of the Bauhaus pioneer
After the Bauhaus moved to Dessau, Wagenfeld stayed in Weimar, where he worked at the Staatliche Bauhochschule, first as an assistant and a little later as a teacher and head of the metal workshop. The designer had his big breakthrough in the 1930s when he collaborated with the Jaener Glaswerke. This was followed by numerous products such as vases, bowls and tea sets for various manufactories, some of which – like the Wagenfeld lamp – are still produced today. Wagenfeld taught at the Staatliche Kunsthochschule in Berlin, but gave up the position when the NSDAP came to power. Instead, he took over as artistic director of the Lausitzer Glaswerke – the largest European glassworks at the time.
After his war service and captivity, Wilhelm Wagenfeld taught for two years at the university of fine arts in Berlin before working as a freelance designer for various companies, including WMF and Rosenthal. In the 1950s, he moved to Stuttgart, where he opened his first studio in 1954. He finally retired from the business at the age of 78.
Today Wagenfeld's works can be admired in renowned museums and are part of many interiors. The Wilhelm Wagenfeld Foundation was established in Bremen, the designer's birthplace. The Wilhelm Wagenfeld House is also located there.
Frequently asked questions to our lighting experts
Our store manager gladly answers frequently asked questions on the subject of Wagenfeld lamps.
Anja Schuh
How can I recognize an original Wagenfeld lamp?
Tecnolumen is the only manufacturer in the world to have been licensed to produce the re-editions of the famous Wagenfeld lamps – by Wilhelm Wagenfeld himself.
That it is an original re-production of the Wagenfeld lamp, you can tell by various features. For example, the lamp socket has a grommet for the pull cord, which in turn has a small nickel-plated ball at the end. The surface of the Wagenfeld lamp is nickel-plated – not chrome-plated – so it will develop a patina over the years. Labels and stickers also prove that the lamp is VDE-tested and thus complies with current safety regulations. Furthermore, all Wagenfeld lamps are numbered and have a Tecnolumen signet under the base plate.
