- Categories
- Categories
Last 5 Viewed
Links (external links open in a new window)
Vintageinfo
The Meerpaal lamp in the Raak Catalogue 9 from 1972 as a ceiling lamp
Meerpaal garden light – Raak Catalogue 9
Raak Meerpaal Pendant Lamp
Materials: White opal glass bollard style lampshade. Copper parts, rod and canopy. Metal E27 socket.
Rod length: 80 cm / 31.49”
Height: 28 cm / 11.02”
Width: ∅ 25 cm / 9.84”
Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 100 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, but a white/opaque or frosted one is preferred when used in an opal glass light. Clear bulbs creates stripes on the lampshade and therefore also on the walls.
Period: 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer:To be appraised.
Manufacturer:Raak, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Other versions: The Raak Meerpaal pendant lamp exists in white opal glass and pulegoso glass (bubble glass, also called “vulkaanglas” or volcanic glass). It was made as a wall lamp, a flush mount, a pendant lamp and a garden lamp.
Meerpaal: Dutch for bollard, mooring post or bitts.
The copper parts of this pendant lamp are not original.
Pulegoso
Pulegoso is an Italian term derived from the dialect word pulega, meaning bubble. This type of glass contains numerous bubbles of different sizes, created by adding substances such as bicarbonate, soda, gasoline or other agents to the molten glass. These bubbles make the glass semi-opaque and give it an irregular surface texture. The technique was developed in the 1920s by Napoleone Martinuzzi (1892-1977) on the island of Murano, Italy, and was first used by the famous Venini company.
Raak
The Dutch lighting company Raak was founded in 1954 by Carel O. Lockhorn (18 June 1923 – 6 October 2004), who had previously worked for Philips Lighting in Eindhoven. The Dutch word raak can be understood as “on target” or “to hit the mark”, a fitting name for a company that became known for its progressive and carefully considered lighting designs.
Raak is best known for its distinctive Dutch modern lighting of the 1960s and 1970s. Many of their best designs combine glass and metal in a way that feels both elegant and futuristic. Their lighting often has a strong architectural presence, while still retaining a warm and decorative quality. Because of this, Raak became one of the most recognizable names in post-war European lighting.
Over the years, Raak collaborated with a remarkable range of Dutch and international designers and architects, among them Bertrand Balas, Evert Jelle Jelles, Frank Ligtelijn, Ger Vos, Jan Jasper Fayer, Li Helo, Maija-Liisa Komulainen, Nan Platvoet, Nanny Still-McKinney, Nico Kooi, Sergio Asti, Tapio Wirkkala, Willem van Oyen, Rico Baltussen, Kees Terlouw, Yki Nummi, Tobia Scarpa, Berend Bodenkamp, Arihiro Miyake and others.
Collaborations
Raak also worked together with several other lighting and glass companies. For the well-known Globe series, the glass was produced by the German company Peill+Putzler. Raak also sold lamps made by Peill+Putzler, including models designed by Aloys Ferdinand Gangkofner. For the Discus flush mount, the glass was made by the German company Bega. In the late 1950s, Raak also cooperated with the Belgian glass manufacturer Val Saint Lambert for the Stalactites flush mounts. In addition, Raak marketed several lamps produced by Staff Leuchten in Germany, as well as models connected to other European manufacturers.
Carel Lockhorn sold the company in 1974 to ITT, although he remained director until 1977. In 1980, Raak merged with BIS Lighting from Aalsmeer in The Netherlands and continued under the name BisRaak. In 1986, the company became independent again. By then, the collection had changed considerably: the more expressive and decorative character of the 1960s and 1970s gradually gave way to a more restrained, architectural look, often in black, white and grey.
In 1999, Raak merged with Artilite B.V. and Indoor B.V. and became CLA: Centrum voor Lichtarchitectuur B.V. in Drachten. The term Lichtarchitectuur had already been used by Raak as a slogan from the early years onward. CLA was founded by Egbert Keen. The company was declared bankrupt on 19 May 2011.
Raak received 26 iF Design Awards. As the company only began entering the competition in 1980, that number might otherwise have been even higher.
Raak Meerpaal Pendant Lamp – Company Labels
