Leave it to a Frenchman to redesign the torchiere. “Lamp” by industrial designer Julien Bergignat takes the ancient idea of a torch to a whole new level. It was a bit messy carrying along a burst of flame, and it wasn’t much neater to walk along with a candelabra, so we eventually harnessed light sans fire; in the process, unfortunately, we lost portability. Not so anymore, thanks to the minimalistically named Lamp.

Lamp. Designed by Julien Bergignat.

Bergignat explains: ” It will be your pilot, your light, for what you give to illuminate!” Lamp looks deceptively simple, like a well-designed desk lamp. Sleek, dark, somewhat masculine, Lamp dresses a desk with subtle illumination, the lithium ion diffused by a black shade whose gold interior warms the otherwise cold light. But notice what’s missing! There is no cord, no plug, no messy lines to ruin the organization of your workspace. Yes, this is an obsessive-compulsive’s dream. If you or someone you know wants EVERYTHING to be cordless, then Lamp gets you a little farther along in that neat dream. Printers, computers, faxes, take note.

While the sleek cordlessness of Lamp assuages OCD, its totability is nothing to sneeze at either. You can pick up Lamp from its base and take it with you, lighting your way through darkened hallways and dim passageways (particularly well-suited to those who live in haunted castles). Or you can simply pick Lamp up and lay it down on your desk, closer to wherever you need illumination. Place it next to the infinitesimal script of your business partner or beside a detailed architectural plan. Even a novel’s small print.

That Berignat is an industrial designer makes perfect sense. His use of practical materials can be felt everywhere in Lamp: aluminum, stainless steel, polymethyl, VM-treated interior, and battery lithium ion. Hotels across the Western world should furnish their rooms with Lamp, so guests might take their lighting needs into their own hands-literally.