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Raak Bazuin Table Lamp

Materials: Round and conical brushed aluminium base. Off-white fabric lampshade. Galvanized metal E27 socket.

Width: ∅ 45 cm / 17.71”

Height: 70 cm / 27.55”

Base: ∅ 25 cm / 9.84”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 150 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used. Not a specific one preferred. But for white glass it is best to use frosted or white bulbs.

Period: 1960s, 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: Raak, Aalsmeer, The Netherlands.

Other versions: The Raak Bazuin table lamp exists in one version and can be found with several different lampshades. In the catalogue of 1972 also a bronze coloured version appears. Also the model number changed.

In 1968 this table lamp was labelled D-2097, in 1972 it became D-1232.00. No designer is mentioned, unfortunately.

Bazuin, old Dutch word for trumpet.

Raak

The Dutch company Raak was founded in 1954 by Carel O. Lockhorn (18 June 1923 – 6 October 2004), a previous employee of Philips Lighting Eindhoven. Raak, which means “to hit” in Dutch, implies design which precisely “hits the nail on the head”.

Raak is best known for their organic modern design of the 1960s and 1970s which combined glass & metals for a sophisticated futuristic style.

The light company collaborated with several international designers and architects, including Bertrand BalasEvert Jelle JellesFrank LigtelijnGer VosJan Jasper FayerLi HeloMaija-Liisa KomulainenNan PlatvoetNanny Still-MackinneyNico KooiSergio AstiTapio WirkalaWillem van Oyen, Ad van Berlo and many others.

Collaborations 

Raak also collaborated with other companies. They worked with the German Peill + Putzler for this Raak Globe lamps. Peill + Putzler produced the glass. They also sold lamps made by Peill + Putzler, such as a pendant lamp designed by Aloys Ferdinand Gangkofner. For the Raak Discus the glass was made by Bega, also a German company. For the Stalactites flush mounts a cooperation with the Belgian Val Saint Lambert was undertaken in the late 1950s. Raak also sold some lamps that were produced by Staff Leuchten (Staff & Schwarz Leuchtenwerke GMBH) from Germany. iittala from Finland produced the glass for the Suomi pendant lamps, and so on…

Carel Lockhorn sold the company in 1974 to ITT but remained a director until 1977. In 1980 Raak merged with BIS Lighting from Aalsmeer, also in The Netherlands and was renamed into BisRaak. In 1986 the Raak company became independent again. The company got a business appearance and only the colours white, black and grey were still processed.

In 1999, Raak merged with Artilite B.V. and Indoor B.V. and became CLA: Centrum voor Lichtarchitectuur B.V. in Drachten (Centre for Light Architecture). Lichtarchitectuur (light architecture) was the Raak tagline from the beginning in the 1950s. The Centre for Lighting Architecture was founded by Egbert Keen. The company was declared bankrupt on 19-05-2011.

Raak received 26 iF Design Awards. They only started participating since 1980. Otherwise it would undoubtedly have been many more.

Dutch text from the 1972 catalogue

Een voet als een bazuin, zuiver en gedreven… Keuze uit 2 kappen. Voor grotere projecten kappen in kleur naar keuze.

D-1232.00 hoogte 70 cm, 45 cm, lamp tot 150W. Voet blank geanodiseerd lichtmetaal, kap wit lacqué.

D-2133.00 dito maar voet lichtbrons, kap met difuuswitte ondergrond waarover een zandkleurig weefsel in een interessante structuur die blijvend boeit.

Translated text

A foot like a trumpet, pure and driven… Choice of 2 shades. Lampshades in the colour of your choice for larger projects.

D-1232.00 height 70 cm, ∅ 45 cm, lamp up to 150W. Base clear anodised light metal, shade white lacquer.

D-2133.00 ditto but base light bronze, shade with diffuse white background covered with a sandy-coloured fabric in an interesting structure that is permanently captivating.