A Brief History Of The Anglepoise Lamp

In this collaborative series with London’s Design Museum, senior curator Alex Newson selects treasured design icons from the institution’s permanent collection: Designer, Maker, User. In this video, he unveils the history behind the iconic Anglepoise Lamp.

This iconic 1930s design was actually designed by car engineer George Carwardine – what made it special was the ultimate flexibility of the design, thanks to the specific type of spring and lever mechanism that Carwardine created, which was patented in 1932. It meant that the lamp could be angled to face any direction and remain in that position, making it a great task light for industrial use, however it was introduced to the domestic market three years later.

The original design was the 1227, with many other models and updates created throughout the 20th century – it was only in 2003 that renowned British designer Kenneth Grange resurrected the 1227 and gave it a fresh, contemporary twist, which became the Anglepoise Type 3. The collaborations continue, with the likes of contemporary designers Margaret Howell and Paul Smith working with the brand to create limited editions.

Watch the video above to see the full story and discover the history of other design icons in the series, including Alvar Aalto’s Stool 60, Alessi’s Juicy Salif citrus squeezer, the Apple Mac, Thonet’s Bistro chair and Braun’s SK4 radio-phonograph.

Read more about the history of the lamp here.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.