1960s Adjustable Boulanger Desk Lamp

Materials: Rectangular black metal base. Adjustable thick chromed metal slat. Right-angled black painted metal lampshade, white acrylic diffuser. Pull-cord switch. White painted Bakelite E27 lamp socket.

Height: 50 cm / 19.68”

Lampshade: 29,5 x 9 x 8 cm / 11.61 x 3.54 x 3.14”

Base: 18 x 11,5 cm / 7.08 x 4.52”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt. Any type of light bulb can be used.

Period: 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: Société Anonyme Boulanger, Maurice Herbettelaan 38A, Anderlecht, Belgium.

Other versions: This 1960s Adjustable Boulanger desk lamp comes in at least two versions, versions were made with a switch on cord. As you can see on the catalogue picture, also a wall lamp was made with the same lampshade. This table lamp is model 4456. The wall lamp is model 4642.

Cosack

Also the German company Cosack sold this lamp, as you van see on the catalogue pictures. In the 1968-1969 catalogue it is model 7841. These lamp series appeared in Cosack catalogues from 1962 until 1968. Did Boulanger sell Cosack lamps, or is it the other way around? It’s not just about one lamp series. The partnership was long-standing. Both companies also sold the Cobra desk lamp, which is several years older. And probably also some others.

S.A. Boulanger

S.A. Boulanger was founded in Anderlecht, Belgium in 1945. The company is famous for the large amount of lights it produced that were designed by Gaetano Sciolari. At some point in the 1980s the company changed their name inLes Ateliers Boulanger NV.

It has long been thought that they were two different companies, but that is because a trader from Liège, Belgium persisted that the lamps came from Herstal, near Liège.

In 1996 the company had 11 employees. The firm moved in 1998 to the Martelarenlaan 155 in 3010 Kessel-Lo, near Leuven. In the period 1995 – 2001 Jean-Philippe Spalart was the CEO. He did a feasibility study for the transfer of the company to China, Eastern Europe and Africa. Relocation of the manufacture in Zimbabwe.

Boulanger was specialised in metal processing and manufacturers high-end lamps and lighting fixtures. Les Ateliers Boulanger ended business in 2006.

Massive & Boulanger

Massive sold several Boulanger models over the years. The only difference is the typical Massive canopy/ceiling cap and some other parts.

Old text from the 1990s

“Boulanger sells mainly in the high-end lighting markets in Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg. The growing sales in the US and in South Africa are of growing importance to the company. Due to the highly competitive market, having product with a high added value is very important. The intelligent lamp is an important advantage, compared to our competitors, and will increase our market share in an important way.

The most important local competitors are Massive, a Belgian company, market leader in Europe (turnover of 100 MEUR), Deknudt at Deerlijk (turnover 2.5 MEUR) and some 10 other Belgian competitors of its own size. There is important competition from southern European and Asian competitors. The market share of Boulanger is only a few percent of the share of the Belgian companies. It is a small company with a turnover of about 300 k EURO.”

“Most Boulanger lamps are low voltage and halogen lamps (220V up to 300W or 12V up to 50W).
The products are sold to retail shops. In Belgium, about 300 retail shops sell its products. There are around 40 retail shops abroad: Luxembourg, Germany, France and South Africa.”