Some things seldom change (I would say never but have been warned against all-or-nothing declarations). One of the design trends in lighting that’s been going on since the invention of the incandescent bulb is human-shaped lighting—both in the form of curvaceous bulbs and bulbous bases. Metaphorical illumination is associated with the mind (as in bright idea, not to point out the obvious)—and this translates literally as well with lamp shades and lamp heads that resemble the human head. In the middle of the twentieth century, the body in lighting even extended to animal forms—the duck, for example, with its long neck.

Smart Lights. Designed by Joe Ginsberg for Tempo Luxury Home Collection.

Consistent Inconsistency: Customized Handblown Lamps

Manhattan-based artist and designer Joe Ginsberg is continuing the figurative lamp with his collection of handblown Smart Lights, available through his Tempo Luxury Home Collection. These ingenious table lamps come in two sizes: they range in height from 17 to 26 inches. Each of these lamps is slightly different due to the nature of the production technique; and every one is customized in practically any color of handblown glass. The essence of Smart Lights is “the hand of the artist” (just to extend the metaphor further, we now include an appendage).

The base of Smart Lights resembles a curvaceous torso, but it’s the head that steals the show (and, presumably, gives the collection its name). In comparison to the body, the table lamp’s bulbous head is considerably larger—and its ballooning shape gives it the feeling that it’s continuing to grow (as if inflated with intelligence?). The design, whether you liken it to the human form or something more alienesque or nothing of the sort, beautifully showcases its material. The globular shapes highlight the pliable nature of handblown glass and the interior light shows off its lustrous translucency.

Via Interior Design.

About the Manufacturer: The Tempo Luxury Home Collection, designed and fabricated by Manhattan-based artist/designer Joe Ginsberg, offers unusual pieces of furniture and accessories “crafted for an audience that is sensitive to the aesthetic but sensible about the economy.” In other words, Tempo is timely. The collection includes tables, rugs, pillows, hand blown glass lighting, and fine art prints.