Lampe Gras by DCWéditions - Page 216

Bernard-Albin Gras was one of the most innovative designers of the 20th century and in 1921, the engineer, architect and inventor designed the first version of the lamp, which he called the Gras-Lamp. It is a robust lamp that is ergonomically designed with clear industrial influences in its design.

Gras-Lamp lent itself well to offices and other industrial environments, but its stylish and practical design quickly spread to private homes as well. Many architects and designers were impressed by the lamp and tried to compete with the design of Gras. The lamp was later renamed Lampe Gras. Its basic shape has no screws or welded joints, and its uniquely developed parts are precisely what make the French classic La Lampe Gras an original ahead of its time.

An innovative 20th-century classic

Among the early appreciators of Lampe Gras was the prominent French theoretician Le Corbusier, who was fascinated by the lamp’s modern design and ease of use. The Frenchman became a keen enthusiast who not only decorated his premises with the lamps but also used them in several architectural projects throughout the world.

Early supporters included Robert Mallet-Stevens, Jacques Emile Ruhlmann and Eileen Gray, as well as well-known artists such as Sonia Delaunay and Georges Braque, who decorated their studios, etc., with Gras’ well-formed designs. In 1927, the Ravel Company acquired the patent for the lamp and began producing the Lampe Gras, which became the first lamp to be considered equally popular in professional and private settings.

Later, the Lampe Gras became a sought-after collector's item throughout the world, but especially in France, the United States and Japan. Some years later, the Paris-based company DCW éditions took over production and developed Lampe Gras into a range of indoor and outdoor lamps and ceiling lights. Despite this, no details or functions were modified and Bernard-Albin Gras’ skillful design proved to be timeless, and the now-classic Lampe Gras lives on in many homes and interiors around the world.