Sonneman Orbiter Floor Lamp

Materials: White painted round metal (iron) base. 3 chrome rods. White painted connector . Ornamental chrome adjustment screw. White painted metal counterweight. White painted adjustable aluminium eyeball lampshade. Chrome reflector. Metal E14 socket.

Height: 170 cm / 66.92”

Width: 128 cm / 50.39”

Base: ∅ 30 cm / 11.81”

Electricity: 1 bulb E14, 1 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

Period: 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Robert Sonneman in 1967.

Manufacturer: LUCI illuminazione d’interni, Milan, Italy.

Other versions: The Sonneman Orbiter floor lamp comes in several colours. It was made in several variations. Also made with 2 and 3 lampshades. Other models were also made. The floor lamp and wall lamp are still in production by the Sonneman company.

Text about the Orbiter lamp from the Sonneman website:

“Among the first and most impactful designs in 1967, Orbiter defined the modern functional art that became the cornerstone and pathos of Robert Sonnemans life work. A simple arc supports a single boom that moves in balance throughout a hemisphere. Exhibited in museums and galleries, the Orbiter is an uncomplicated machine, so pure in its elements that the art of its simplicity has never been redefined more perfectly in the 45 years of its history.”

The floor lamp on this page is a version produced in Italy by Luci illuminazione, as you can see.

Robert Sonneman

Robert Sonneman, born in 1942 in New York, USA, started his career in 1961 at a the George Kovacs lighting store in Manhattan, he was only 19, he was the sole employee.

He designed is first lamps at the age of 21. Kovacs introduced him to Modernism: the European minimal style. He designed lamps completely different than al the other lights produced in the US, also by his parents who manufactured traditional lighting and normal lamps.

Robert Sonneman started his own company in 1967 and designed many famous lamps such as this Orbiter in the same year. His favourites are Big Mack, Bankers Lamp, Feather, Floating Glass, L’arc, Plinth, Quattro and Vienna. Robert Sonneman sold his company in 1982, but still designs lighting.

LUCI illuminazione

LUCI illuminazione d’interni (indoor lighting) was founded in 1966. Designers who have collaborated with LUCI are: Toshiyuki Kita, Giugiaro Design, Rodolfo Bonetto, Asahara Sigeaki, Francesco Brivio, Carlo Forcolini, Giancarlo Fassina, Ikaru Mori, Fabio Princivalle, Serge & Robert Cornelissen, Gabi Peretto, Gianfranco Frattini and many others. For a while the name Luci Cinisello was used. It is the town near Milan where the company was located.

In 1989 LUCI changed into LUCITALIA. The company merged with Ghidini Lighting, founded in 1974. Ghidini Lighting is an Italian company specialised in the design and production of technical outdoor lighting fixtures. The company is located at the Via Monsuello 211, 25065 Lumezzane, Italy. Some 100 km / 62 mi from Milan.