I admit: I have a love affair with the incandescent bulb. There are people out there who will never let go of their Kodachrome and others who will never abandon their vinyl records. The incandescent bulb is my chosen anachronism. I love its crystal clarity, its bulbous form, its thin filament. As much as I want to save energy, I am not quite ready to embrace the spiral CFL.

Mega Bulb pendant lamp. Designed by Sofie Refer for &Tradition. Distributed by Ameico.

Study of Transparent Form

Naturally, I love pendant lamps that feature the beauty of the incandescent bulb, such as Mega Bulb. Designed by Sofie Refer for the Danish firm &Tradition and distributed by Ameico, Mega Bulb traces the sexy shape of the G40 decorative globe bulb. Its clear handblown glass lets the light source inside remain highly visible—it offers transparent design at its best, literally and figuratively.

With a 230 mm height (about 9 inches) and a diameter of 180 mm (about 7 inches), Mega Bulb is large enough to shed a good amount of light: &Tradition says its “high quality light” is “a perfect companion for the kitchen chef.” Equipped with a clear or fabric cord in black, red, or white, Mega Bulb offers a little splash of color, although its main appeal is the glass.

The Mega Bulb pendant is a tribute to both the old-school bulb and the old-world craft of glassblowing: “The small irregularities in the mouth blown glass make each of the pendants one of a kind and add the story of the glass master’s personal efforts in changing sand, soda and chalk into a modern classic using a thousand year old method.”

Via Designer Pages.

About the Distributor: Ameico offers mid-century classics and new designs with a touch of whimsy. They choose designers and products that maintain “a high degree of creative energy.” Their collection aims to include both established visionaries of the 20th century and future masters of the 21st century. Above all else, Ameico seeks “excellent craftsmanship, creating durable objects of lasting quality.”