Among the many ingenious incarnations we’ve seen of the great design flourish formerly known as light, a few notable high-concept pieces stand out: Winter taught us that a hundred some plastic bags can be fashioned into an alluring iridescent jellyfish; Motorlight appropriated the legacies of mechanization to make each room resemble a dazzling Broadway stage set; and CWU.003.02 took its cue from the ominpresent and eminently utilitarian metal pipe.

Eggs Floor Lamp. Designed by Barbara Cosgrove.

With such an array of bold symbolism to contend with, what’s a true innovator to do? If you asked manufacturer Barbara Cosgrove, I suspect the answer would be along the lines of “balance ten eggs atop a circular base, shellac it into permanence, and top it with a vintage circular 60’s style shade.” For that, in essence, describe the Eggs Floor Lamp, Barbara Cosgrove’s tribute to everybody’s favorite perfect protein. However much it may resemble an amazing assemblage of the real thing, Cosgrove’s piece did not come from the local hen house but rather the iron hot edge of the metalsmith’s forge. The two versions are made of brass and nickel respectively, the former sporting a burnished brown patina, and the latter a gleaming high polish. The shade is painted parchment (chocolate or ivory). Eggs is 55″ high with an 11″ base diameter and 14″ shade.

The look of the piece is certainly distinctive. Not since the Egg Bed or the Egg Chair or the Egg Lamp have we seen such stylings with an integral component of the great American breakfast. Yes, I’m poking a bit of fun, because it has been done before and done well, but perhaps never before with the same singular linear panache. Just don’t let Humpty Dumpty anywhere near it!