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Linke Plewa Circo Desk Lamp – 1980s Catalogue Picture
First design of the Circo desk lamp in yellow and grey.
Linke Plewa Circo Desk Lamp – 1980s Catalogue Picture
This lamp is probably the best-selling table lamp Linke Plewa designed. It was mainly produced in bright, bold colour combinations. It was also available in black/red and white/white versions.
Today, it is frequently found on the internet, where it is often associated with the MEMPHIS style and sometimes offered at exorbitant prices.
Linke Plewa Circo Desk Lamp – Segma Desk Lamp – 1980s Catalogue Picture
Segma desk lamp in red, white and black.
Linke Plewa Circo Desk Lamp
Materials: Round blue plastic base with a black painted iron lid in the bottom. Toroidal transformer inside. Triangular green plastic in top. Chrome ring, 2 springs, rubber. 2 yellow rings. Yellow rods holder. 2 black painted thin metal rods. Adjustable triangular blue lampshade with 2 red round buttons and a red handle. Aluminium reflector. Porcelain G5 socket.
Lampshade: 12 x 6 cm / 4.72 x 2.36”
Max Height: 76 cm / 29.92” – adjustable
Base: ∅ 15,7 x 5,3 cm / 6.18 x 2.08”
Electricity: 1 bulb G5 halogen, 1 x 50 watt maximum, 12 volt. 220 volt to 12 volt transformer built-in the base. Any type of G5 lamp can be used. Not a specific one preferred. Switch with two settings, high and low (6 and 12 volt).
Period: 1980s – Memphis Milan Style.
Designer: Heico Linke.
Manufacturer: Brilliant AG, Brilliantstraße 1, D-27442 Gnarrenburg, Germany.
Other versions: This Linke Plewa Circo desk lamp was also made in black with red and white with black.
Heico Linke
Heico Linke (full name: Heinrich Linke) is a German industrial designer who designed a wide range of products between the late 1970s and the early 1990s, including several important lighting designs for Brillantleuchten (later Brilliant AG).
He studied Industrial Design at the University of Fine Arts (HFBK) in Hamburg from 1974 until 1979. Several of his early lamp designs originated as semester projects during his studies, some of which later entered (limited) production.
In early 1978, Heico Linke founded the design studio Linke Plewa Design together with Jens Plewa (and briefly Reinhardt Buchner). The studio was based in Hamburg-St. Pauli and operated until 1994. During this period, the office worked for a large number of industrial clients, designing products ranging from lamps and light systems to electronics, packaging, tools, toys, furniture, and medical devices.
Between 1986 and 1991, Linke-Plewa designed an extensive range of lighting products for Brillantleuchten. Many of these designs were developed around the emerging popularity of 12V halogen lighting and modular lighting systems. After the takeover of Brillantleuchten in 1991 and its transformation into Brilliant AG, large parts of this product range were abruptly discontinued.
From 1995 onward, Heico Linke worked as an in-house designer for ZACK, a leading European brand specialising in stainless steel home accessories. He remained with the company until May 2014. After leaving ZACK, he briefly ran his own company again for several years and subsequently retired.
Several of Linke’s lamp designs, especially from the late 1980s, are today frequently associated with the Memphis style. This is particularly true for the Circo series, which is often offered on the secondary market at very high prices and regularly (and incorrectly) attributed to Italian Memphis designers.
Heiko Linke & Jens Plewa: Linke Plewa Design
Lamp designs by Heico Linke / Linke-Plewa
Brillantleuchten / Brilliant AG (1986–1991):
• TWILIGHT – Modular 12V halogen lighting system (tracks, spotlights, pendants, floor lamps). Fully developed system; discontinued after 1991.
• CIRCO – Table lamp. The most commercially successful design by Linke-Plewa. Produced in bold colour combinations; today often labelled as “Memphis”.
• SEGMA – Table lamp. Produced in several colour variants; sold at Karstadt.
• TRITON – Wall lamp, table lamp and floor lamp. Short production run around 1989.
• MECANO – Table lamp. Prototype only; never realised for production.
• KASKAD – Table lamp. Last project designed for Brillantleuchten; later adapted for IKEA.
• FUTURA – Ceiling spotlight system.
• ZORRO – Pendant lamp.
• MIKADO – Pendant lamp.
• ZIPPO – Pendant lamp.
• OUTDOOR – Modular outdoor lighting system integrating light, motion detector, socket, intercom and dusk switch; discontinued after 1991.
Other lighting projects:
• SYSTEM 8000 – Floor lamps and spotlights for OTT-International (1978); partially produced, project later cancelled.
• STAND BY – Portable lamp designed for ELKAMET / Lighthouse (1992); produced in large numbers, especially the smaller version for children’s rooms.
• HALOFORM / EUCOFORM / BRENDEL – Various ceiling lights, recessed lights and spotlight systems (late 1980s).
• IKEA “Kaskad” – Table lamp based on the earlier Brillantleuchten design; produced by HALOFORM for IKEA.
Brilliant Leuchten
Brilliant AG was founded in 1951 as Brillantglashütte oHG / Lippold und Tschammer in Gnarrenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. The company originally operated as a glass factory, producing hand-blown lighting glass for light bulbs, using local peat and quartz sand as raw materials.
In 1953, the glassworks began producing glass pendant bowls, marking the first step towards the manufacturing of complete lighting fixtures. During the 1960s, the product range expanded and materials such as wood, metal, and plastic were introduced alongside glass.
In the 1970s, the company increasingly focused on the finishing and assembly of luminaires using externally sourced components. To accommodate this shift, the industrial glass production facility was sold, and the company was renamed Brillantleuchten AG.
During the 1980s, Brillantleuchten AG moved further away from glass production and specialised in spotlights and metal pendant lamps. In 1985, the (then still family-owned) company was listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Bremen.
In 1991, as part of its international expansion, the company adopted its final name: Brilliant AG. The word “Leuchten” was dropped and a second “i” was added to the brand name. Between 1994 and 1997, the Brilliant Industrial Park was developed in Gnarrenburg, including new warehouse buildings and a high-bay warehouse. By the late 1990s, exports accounted for almost 50% of total turnover.
In the 2000s, increasing international competition and price pressure led to the relocation of production abroad. Sales, administration, design, and logistics remained based in Gnarrenburg. On 24 September 2004, the British group The National Lighting Company Ltd became the main shareholder. This transition enabled a successful restructuring, and in 2006Brilliant AG returned to profitability.
Many thanks to Christophe from STAT in Aalst, Belgium for the lamp.
Many thanks to Heico Linke for all the help, the additional photos and info.
Linke Plewa Circo Desk Lamp – Company Labels & Logos
