The Dioscuro Table Lamp by Michele de Lucchi, available at Hive
So right about now you may be wondering what makes globe lighting so ’80s. After all, globe lamps and fixtures were a mod staple of the ’60s and ’70s. Guess what? They stuck around for the ’80s and added just the right amount of other-worldly glow to many a living room during our favorite decade. Today we explore the globe lighting phenomenon and show you how to bring the look home for a reasonable price.
We start with the Dioscuri Table Lamp, shown above. Designed by Michele de Lucchi in 2000, this stunning piece is available through Hive for $235. If you’re needing to budget a bit more, never fear. The good folks at IKEA have designed a globe light for $19.99. That’s right–$19.99. For a great price, the FADO Table Lamp can be yours. No, it doesn’t have a metal base, but the globe itself is glass. Check it out below:
The FADO Table Lamp from IKEA
How exactly did globe lamps shine their light on the world of ’80s design? See for yourself! The 1980s image below is from a guest blog post I wrote for my friends at The 80s Gallery on Electrifying 80s Lighting. In the photo that follows, we see a globular floor lamp cast a hazy glow over a room filled with modern seating and clear shelving. It’s not a table lamp, but the spherical effect is similar.
A globular floor lamp in an image from The Decorating Book by Mary Gilliatt
As you can see, globe lamps work well in spaces devoid of clutter–rooms where they can truly shine. Have an illuminating Wednesday!
Wouldn’t it be rather scratchy sitting on that dead Christmas tree? (Still hankering after a globe light in a pair of hands.)