Willem Hendrik Gispen 'Giso' Table Lamp, Dutch Functionalism, 1930s

A rare 1930s 'Giso' table lamp by Willem Hendrik Gispen, documented as model 5008 in the original Gispen lighting catalogue. With its curved stem, pointed shade and beautifully balanced proportions, it combines the expressive character of Dutch Art Deco with the clarity of functionalist design.

A slender metal arc rises from the circular base, carrying a pleated fabric shade beneath an elongated conical metal cap. A small ball finial completes the pointed silhouette. Another spherical detail sits at the foot of the stem. The wonderfully aged metal provides a rich contrast to the ivory-coloured fabric, which takes on a soft, warm glow when illuminated.

The design retains some echoes of Amsterdam School design in its sculptural outline, particularly the pointed cap and finial. At the same time, its elementary geometry and economical use of material shows the modernist and functionalist concept. This example has its cable exiting through the base, leaving the curved stem uninterrupted. It very closely resembles the Giso table lamp displayed at the famous Sonneveld House in Rotterdam, where Gispen’s furniture and lighting formed an essential part of the modern interior.

The Sonneveld house (named after the avant-garde family that lived there since the late 1920s) is an outstanding example of Dutch Functionalism. Now a museum house, it demonstrates how progressive design was combined with domestic comfort and luxury. Alongside the geometric glass lighting, these fabric-shaded lamps brought a softer, more intimate light to the rooms.

Willem Hendrik Gispen (1890–1981) founded his company in Rotterdam in 1916, initially producing decorative metalwork. The introduction of Giso lighting in 1926 marked an important development towards modern industrial design. In 1934 the company moved to Culemborg, the town with which its manufacturing history became closely associated. His background in metal craftsmanship remained evident in the sensitivity of his later furniture and lighting designs. Period examples of this distinctive lamp are rarely encountered. The shade has been professionally reconstructed in this pleated form. The base remains completely original, including its light switch, and the lamp has been expertly rewired. The aged surface of the metal preserves the character of this historic piece. The lamp is quite heavy - the base is weighted.