Inspired by the shape of the cone, British designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby have designed a series of lamps presented in a new solo exhibition at the Gallery Kreo de London.
Under the name of 'Signals' floor, wall and pendant lamps made of aluminum and glass delighted everyone.
Each lamp consists of an aluminum box that forms the base of the design, on which conical glass cones are attached.
Each of the colorful glass shades is blown by master craftsmen in the workshops of Venini en Murano, Venice.
The collection is defined by bold tertiary colors made brighter by the light that shines through the glass forms, an approach that dovetails with the constant concern of Barber Osgerby by color composition.
“There is a tension between the industrial and artisanal elements of the lamps, what we call engineering craftOsgerby explains. "We are always trying to work in this space between the sketch and the machine."
The shapes of the lamps, the designers note, are reminiscent of old-school audio equipment and dystopian sci-fi designs from the era of Cold War, given its rigorous construction softened by glass, color and light.
At the end of it all, their creators define them as technical objects with no attempt to smooth them out by adding curves or further refinement. They are bold and monolithic objects, but those qualities are then contrasted with the elaborate central forms that emit light.
There is something in the cone that we return to often. There is an energy in its form. In technical drawing, orthographic projection makes use of the conical shape to define the view of the object we are drawing. It is a code that is deeply ingrained in our minds. (...) They are the ideal way to transmit and receive information, they invite commitment.
The collection 'Signals' summarizes some of the study's ongoing research topics, from manufacturing techniques to more complex explorations of forms.
The elegant aesthetic of the lamps is made more contemporary with details like the oversized buttons on the aluminum bases and the fact that the glass shades can be moved to change the brightness of the light.
"Signals is a continuation of themes that have been evolving in the background of our work for some time," concludes Osgerby. "It encompasses engineering craftsmanship, our love of Venini glass and color, and our enjoyment of working with light to change a space.