Fractal Resin Shatterline Table Lamp

Materials: Round stainless steel (Inox) tubular base. Yellow-orange fractal synthetic resin tube lampshade. Metal B15 socket.

Height: 32,5 cm / 12.79”

Width: ∅ 11 cm / 4.33”

Electricity: 1 bulb B15d, 1 x 25 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

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

Designer: Pierre Giraudon (1923-2012) – attributed.

Manufacturer: Bioplastique srl, 1 Rue Verte, 91380 Chilly Mazarin, France – attributed.

Other versions: This fractal resin shatterline table lamp was probably made in several colours.

This table lamp was made in the 1960s, to see on the wiring. It was acquired in Paris, France. It is a heavy lamp, it weighs 3,125 kg – 6.889 lb.

Pierre Giraudon

Pierre Giraudon was born in 1923 in Paris, France. After studying botany and biology at the Sorbonne university in Paris, he moved to Canada in 1949 where he was appointed to the Montreal Institute of Biology.

At that time in the United States the inclusion of specimens under transparent plastic material is developing. The purpose of this new technique is primarily educational: to make all the plant and animal world accessible to everybody. 

Pierre Giraudon immediately sees all the possibilities that this new technique could offer. He returned to France and opened his laboratory in 1953: “La Société Bioplastique” (The Bioplastic Society). It establishes a first catalog of 150 pieces approved by the l’Éducation Nationale (National Education).

Recognition of his work in encouraged him to explore the artistic possibilities offered by this still fledgling technique. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s he made lamps, objects and sculptures in colored resin with or without inclusions. In the 1980s, Constance, his daughter continues his work.

His company Bioplastique officially ended business in 2002. Pierre Giraudon died on September 25, 2012. he was 89 years old. 

Others

Other artists/companies that used the same materials and technique were Henri Fernandez, Marie Claude de Fouquieres and François Godebskialso from France. They both made lamps, furniture and objects in this colourful shatterline fractal resin. It is possible that this table lamp was made by one of those great artists, or that they worked together with Pierre Giraudon for their creations. I could not find any proof for it. To be continued…

The Solarstein company from Germany produced ashtrays and lighters in this fractal resin. In the UK it was British Home Stores (BHS) that introduced lamps in fractal resin under the brand name Prova. They did not produce lamps, they were made for the company  by Novoplast from the Czech Republic. BHS sold also their rocket floor lamps in fibreglass, the same fibreglass tubes and colours as used for the lampshades.

The Prova name was among other things used for lamps and clothing. The fractal resin lamps are all table lamps with or without a fibreglass lampshade. They were made in many variations. 

Novoplast

Novoplast is a company from the Czech Republic. The company was founded in 1947 and is specialised in glass-fibre reinforced plastics. The company still exists, but they don’t produce lighting anymore.

The use of synthetic resin inclusions became hugely popular in the late 60s, early 70s. Everywhere you went they sold it. It was used for lighters, ashtrays, tourist souvenirs, vases, paper weights, fossils, minerals, corals, animals, coins and so on.

In France they say resin fractal, in the UK shatterline/shatteline crushed ice resin.