Habitat Tangola Desk Lamp – Sketch

Habitat Tangola Desk Lamp

Materials: Brown painted circular cast iron base. Adjustable chromed metal (iron) rod. Aluminium tubular lampshade. Built-in chromed plastic switch on top. Some metal parts. Porcelain E27 socket.

Lampshade: ∅ 7,5 x 21 cm / 2.95 x 8.26”

Height: 48 cm / 18.89”

Base: ∅ 13,5 x 4 cm / 5.31 x 1.57”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred. 

Period: 2000s.

Designer: Matt Hobbs.

Manufacturer: Habitat Retail Ltd, 489-499 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 2NW, United Kingdom. 

Other versions: The Habitat Tangola desk lamp was also made as a floor lamp. It exists in several colours.

The label says it is made for a 7 watt fluorescence light bulb. But you can use it with a LED lamp (3-5 watt) and a incandescence light bulb of 40 watt.

Matt Hobbs

According to the Autumn-Winter 2004 Habitat catalogue, it is a design by Matt Hobbs. Unfortunately I can’t find any info about him. Do you have an idea? Please let us know through the contact form and help improve the websites exactitude.

Often said it is a design of Spanish architect and industrial designer Paul Mayén (1918 – 2000). But he was the founder of Habitat Inc, USA. Another Habitat company. It’s got nothing to do with the English one. Paul Mayén designed many items for his company, but it is all a long time ago.

Baltensweiler

Sometimes said it is a Baltensweiler lamp, but that can only be with bad intentions, because this lamp has two labels and they don’t come off easily. Rico Baltensweiler has only designed a lamp with a similar base. 

Habitat

Habitat Retail Ltd, trading as Habitat is a retailer of household furnishings. Sir Terence Conran (1931 – 2020) founded the company in London in 1964, together with his wife and some friends. Among others, Spanish designer Paul Mayén (1916 – 2000).

The business expanded quickly and in 1973 the first store in Europe was opened in Paris, France. The company expanded and merged frequently over the years. Habitat was acquired by the Ikano Group, (originally a part of IKEA) in 1992 and reinvested in its brand in 1997 and asked designer Tom Dixon to rebuild its in-house design team.

Jonas Damon became the Design Manager of the company. He was responsible for lighting, kitchen accessories, and home accessories.

In 2011 the company almost went bankrupt. In April 2016, Home Retail Group agreed to a 1,6 billion Euro takeover by UK retailer Sainsbury’s.

Habitat is not a lighting producer, this lamp was produced in China for the English company, as labelled.