Five-Light Chrome Tubular Table Lamp, 1980

A sculptural five-light chrome table lamp dating to February 1980, composed of five graduated cylindrical columns rising from a circular mirrored base.

The staggered arrangement creates an architectural silhouette reminiscent of a miniature skyline, while the polished chrome construction places the lamp firmly within the Space Age and late-modernist lighting vocabulary carried forward from the 1970s into the beginning of the 1980s.

Each cylindrical column houses an individual light source. A rotary switch integrated into the base provides three illumination settings, activating two, three or all five lights before returning to the off position. The changing configurations allow the lamp to shift from subdued accent lighting to a fully illuminated sculptural display.

The lamp is unsigned and its manufacturer remains unknown. Its underside retains a clearly visible FEB 1980 date stamp, providing unusually precise dating for an otherwise unmarked piece.

Designed for exposed bulbs, the lamp presents particularly well with matching opal or frosted globe bulbs, which emphasize the contrast between the rounded light sources and the vertical chrome cylinders.

Details
Maker / designer: Unknown
Origin: Unknown
Date: February 1980
Materials: Chrome-plated metal
Colour: Chrome / silver
Style: Space Age / Late Modernist
Lighting: Five-light
Switch: Rotary, four-position
Settings: 2 lights / 3 lights / 5 lights / off
Bulb fitting: Medium Edison screw, consistent with E26
Dimensions: 8.5 in diameter × 16 in Height / 21.6 × 40.6 cm
Weight: 6 lb / 2.72 kg
Markings: “FEB 1980” stamped twice to underside

Condition
Good vintage condition with age-appropriate surface wear throughout. The chrome shows light scratching, oxidation and areas of minor pitting consistent with age and use. The underside retains its original paper covering and February 1980 date stamps. Electrical system and multi-stage rotary switch are in good working order.

Note: Lightbulbs NOT included