Links (external links open in a new window)
Ingo Maurer in the MoMA museum in New York
Tanguy, Le Retour (2019) – IMDb
Vintageinfo
Thomas Alva Edison pendant lamp
Ingo Maurer Design M 1980 – 1981 catalogue
Many thanks to Hans from Objeta for the beautiful pictures and the enthusiasm.
Ingo Maurer Uchiwa Wall Lamp
Materials: Rice paper, almost round lampshade. Bamboo rod. Black painted iron rods. Bakelite E27 socket.
Height: 60 cm / 23.62”
Width: 46 cm / 18.11”
Depth: 12 cm / 4.72”
Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.
Period: 1970s.
Designer: Ingo Maurer in 1973.
Manufacturer: Design M, today named: Ingo Maurer GmbH, Kaiserstrasse 47, 80801 München.
Other versions: The Ingo Maurer Uchiwa wall lamp was made as a wall lamp (model III), a big wall lamp (model IV), a floor lamp (model I), a table lamp (model II) and some variations. Also several chandeliers were produced. Often imitated!
Uchiwa is the Japanese word for fan and it is a traditional Japanese fan. Originally these fans were made from big leaves and animal hair. The oldest fans can be seen in the records of ancient China, as well as the wall paintings of Ancient Egypt.
In the early 1970s, Maurer was particularly interested in Japan, which can be seen in his designs from that time, such as this series of lamps.
Ingo Maurer
Ingo Maurer was born May 12, 1932 on the Island of Reichenau, Bodensee (Lake Constance), Germany. He was trained as a typographer in Germany and in Switzerland.
Ingo Maurer studied graphic design from 1954 until 1958. In 1960 he migrated to the USA and lived and worked in New York and San Francisco as a freelance designer. In 1963 Maurer returned to Germany and settled in Munich where he died on October 12, 2019.
Design M.
In 1966 he founded his company Design M. and his first lamp was born: Bulb. Maurer received several design awards. His most well known lamps are on display in several museums such as the MoMA in New York. He designed the Bulb table lamp in 1966 and the Gulp desk lamp in 1969. The Light Structure pendant lamp as co-designer in 1970. His Little Black Nothing pendant lamp and the YaYaHo low-voltage halogen system in 1988. More recent lamps are: the Los Minimalos Dos desk lamp, the Lucellino Wall wall lamp, Wo bist Du, Edison…? pendant lamp, the Zettel’z chandelier, all in 1999. The Porca Miseria! chandelier dates from 2003.
In 2011 Ingo Maurer received the Compasso d‘Oro for lifetime achievement, awarded by the ADI (Italian Association for Industrial Design). He received numerous awards over the years.
Two Uchiwa wall lamps appear in the book Vorbildlich Wohnen 6 – 1980 (perfect living) from the German furniture manufacturer Hülsta.
Lamps in the movies!
An Ingo Maurer Uchiwa chandelier/pendant lamp was used as a prop in the 1980 Canadian film The Agency (Mind games). A dramatic thriller with Lee Majors and Robert Mitchum. You can see the film here below.
An Ingo Maurer Uchiwa wall lamp was used as a prop in the French comedy film Tanguy, Le Retour from 2019. Starring Sabine Azéma, André Dussollier and Éric Berger. It is the sequel of Tanguy from 2001. In both films, many beautiful vintage lamps appear.
