Raak Globe Pendant Lamp

Materials: Crystal brown smoked glass sphere lampshade. Aluminium conical reflector-diffuser and lampshade holder. Some metal and plastic parts. Bakelite E27 socket.

Cord Length:  80 cm  / 31.49”

Width: ∅ 35 cm / 13.77”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 75 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used. For this setup a silver cup light bulb was used.

Period: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Frank Ligtelijn (1933-1996).

Manufacturer: Raak Lichtarchitectuur, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Other versions: The glass globe of this Raak Globe pendant lamp was used for several table lamps, a floor lamp, chandeliers and wall lamps. Three colours of glass exists: grey violet, smoked brown or bright natural glass.

This Raak Globe pendant lamp was designed in the late fifties by Frank Ligtelijn, a jewellery designer. It was a big success and they were produced for many years.

An example of a jewel (tiara) made by Frank Ligtelijn can be found in the museum of Arnhem online. (link opens in a new window)

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 Balas, Evert Jelle Jelles, Frank Ligtelijn, Ger Vos. Jan Jasper Fayer, Li Helo, Maija-Liisa Komulainen, Nan Platvoet, Nanny Still-Mackinney. Nico Kooi, Sergio Asti, Tapio Wirkala, Willem van Oyen and many others.

Collaborations 

Raak also collaborated with other companies. They worked with the German Peill + Putzler for the 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,  and several other companies.

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 Globe Pendant Lamp – Catalogue 9 – 1968