An Iconic Desk Lamp is Rethought for the 21st Century

It all started in 1932 when British car designer and engineer George Carwardine developed a spring that would be able to maintain its position, even after being released. Carwardine thought this innovation could help to create focused task lights for fellow engineers, but he soon realized that this concentrated form of light had universal appeal. Working with manufacturing partners, Carwardine refined the design that would become synonymous with the desk lamps we all know today and launched the first lamp for Anglepoise, the Model 1209, in 1934. Since then, the British company has continued to innovate its features while maintaining the classic, industrial feel of the original. Their latest offering, the diminutive 90 Mini Mini, revisits the popular 1973 Model 90, making it ideally suited for small-space, on-the-go lifestyles.

Standing at about half the size of a standard desk lamp, the 90 Mini Mini, available at MoMA Design Store, doesn’t give up any of the personality or functionality of its predecessor. Equipped with a dimmable, low-energy LED module and powered by USB, this tiny workhorse can be toted around wherever it’s needed most. The shade can be rotated and tilted up and down, while a swivel mechanism in the base allows users to fully rotate the entire fixture. Whether plugged into your laptop for an added boost of light or illuminating a bedside table, the 90 Mini Mini—which features a brushed aluminum finish in three contemporary shades: carbon black, steel blue, and warm silver blush—provides a spotlight for modern living.

For more information, go to store.moma.org.

Surface Studios is the brand marketing unit of Surface Media.