MCM-062 Vintage 1970s Modernist Acrylic & Brass Mushroom Table Lamp

A quintessential 1970s modernist mushroom table lamp in acrylic and brass — one of the defining lighting forms of the Space Age design era and among the most actively sought vintage lamp categories on the market today.

The mushroom lamp form emerged as a signature expression of postwar optimism and material experimentation. Where earlier decades had turned to glass and ceramic, the 1970s embraced acrylic (Lucite/Perspex) as a lighting material for its ability to transmit and diffuse light with a warm, glowing quality entirely its own. Combined with warm brass hardware, the acrylic mushroom lamp achieved a refined balance between the futuristic and the luxurious — at home in everything from a Hollywood Regency living room to a Milanese design interior. Major manufacturers including Dijkstra (Netherlands), Peill & Putzler (Germany), and numerous Italian makers produced variations on this form throughout the decade; unlabeled examples of comparable quality were produced widely for the export and interior design markets.

At 14¼" tall with a 16¼" diameter shade, this is a generously proportioned example — substantial enough to anchor a side table, credenza, or console. The warm glow produced by an acrylic mushroom lamp is one of the most photographed lighting effects in contemporary MCM interior styling.

• Materials: Acrylic shade; brass hardware
• Dimensions: Approx. 14¼" H × 16¼" diameter
• Period: c.1970s
• Maker's Mark: None apparent
• Condition: Good overall vintage condition
• Source: Joshua Kodner Galleries, Dania Beach, FL
• Auction Date: January 6, 2024
• Lot Number: 181