Sputnik
The earliest design of these sputnik lamps dates back from the late 1950s, when the Soviets launched their Sputnik 1 satellite into orbit in 1957: the space age has begun. Gaetano Sciolari was one of the first designers of this type of lamps, if not the first.
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968) was the first human to journey into outer space, when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth on 12 April 1961.
VLM Components
All the electric parts were made by VLM Components. The company was founded in 1945 in Buccinasco, a small village near Milan, Italy. VLM Components is part of the Relco Group, founded in 1967. Today they are the owners of the brands Relco, Leuci, Relco Lighting, VLM Components and Segno. VLM Components became famous for the switches they produce which were designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1968.
Lamps in the movies
A chrome Sputnik table lamp, maker unknown, appears in the 2015 British crime drama television series Midsomer Murders, season 17, Episode 1, named The Dagger Club. Starring John Nettles, Daniel Casey and Barry Jackson. With a “triennale” style floor lamp on the background and a Carlo Moretti (or in the style) vase on the right.
Links (external links open in a new window)
If Design Award for these lamps
Professor Friedrich Becker website
Boulanger Sputnik Floor Lamp
Materials: Round chromed metal (iron) base. Cast iron counterweight. Long chrome rod. Chrome globe and many chrome rods and balls form a round sputnik lampshade. 12 Bakelite E14 sockets.
Height: 155 cm / 61.02”
Width: ∅ 41 cm / 16.14”
Base: ∅ 30 cm / 11.81”
Electricity: 12 bulbs E14, 12 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, but silver capped bulbs are preferred.
Period: 1970s ,1980s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer: After a design by Friedrich Becker.
Manufacturer: Société Anonyme Boulanger, Anderlecht, Belgium.
Other versions: This Boulanger sputnik floor lamp exists in brass. Wall lamps, flush mounts, chandeliers and table lamps were also produced.
The lamps by Cosack received an If Design Award in 1972.
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 in Les 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.”
Vintageinfo Links
Many thanks to Hans from Objeta for the beautiful pictures and the enthusiasm.