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Quite often when digging into the House & Garden archives, we'll come across a trend for a particular item or feature that persistently pops up in all sorts of houses. Sometimes it will be a recent phenomenon, such as La Redoute's Madotto rug, beloved by designers such as Beata Heuman, or a multitude of living spaces decked out in Farrow & Ball's ever-present and versatile ‘Setting Plaster’. On other occasions we're playing eye spy with a classic piece of design such as the Eames Chair or Tulip Table, that has remained in production and is always on trend, whether seen in House & Garden in 1975 or 2025.
This is the case with the icon of design that is the Anglepoise lamp, with its immediately recognisable, adjustable sprung base and fluted shade, all style and substance, form and function. Just like the word ‘hoover’, in common parlance, ‘anglepoise’ is used interchangeably to denote both the brand of lamp and the style of lamp, a sign of its historic, trailblazing status. As described on their website, in 1932, ‘George Carwardine unwittingly creates the first Anglepoise by inventing a new kind of spring. He discovers that they can support pivoting arms to form a flexible mechanism that responds to the most delicate touch – and stays put.’ This is the secret sauce of the Anglepoise - the ease with which its height and angle can be changed to suit its purpose.
Carwardine, a car designer, had been playing around with vehicle suspension when he came up with his lamp idea. He patented it in July 1932 and initially manufactured it under his own business: Cardine Accessories, based in Bath. Those early lamps carried the name 'The Anglepoise'. It all went so well that in 1933 Carwardine entered into a licensing agreement with Herbert Terry and Sons based in Redditch. And in 1935 the first eponymous 1227 Anglepoise lamp was switched on.
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There have been many variations of the archetypal Original 1227 desk lamp, with different shapes of shade, colour and finish, as well as floor lamps, wall and ceiling versions. The Giant floor lamp is a playfully oversized version of the desk lamp, scaled up to three times the size of the original. Collaborations with designers such as Paul Smith and Margaret Howell, as well as the National Trust, have resulted in some surprising new colour ways, breathing new life into the vintage design.
As well as its timeless look, sturdy build and versatility, Anglepoise lamps are also very reasonably priced - the Original 1227 desk lamp is currently £175 at John Lewis. Whereas many other pieces of similar status will set you back thousands of pounds, with an Anglepoise you can own a piece of design history for a high street price tag. Below, we delve into the wealth of rooms, past and present, that feature this British icon of lighting, and select some of our favourite models so you can get the look.
The earliest mention of an Anglepoise in House & Garden that we have come across is from a feature in 1959 on decorating university accommodation, where the trusty lamp can be seen studiously fulfilling a purpose as a university desk essential in several photos throughout the feature. Unsurprisingly, the desk lamp is very well-suited for use in a working space, due to its directional light that can be repositioned at will.
In more recent years, the home office has been a common place to find an Anglepoise, with Lonika Chande and Retrouvius utilising them to inject a pop of vibrant colour atop desks, whereas Ted Jefferis kept it neutral with a subtle cream Anglepoise in the study of his Sussex home.
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Although the home office is arguably the Anglepoise's most familiar habitat, these lamps need not only be used in workspaces - their slim silhouette and adjustable nature makes them fit for use as a table lamp in the living room, and they make for a perfect reading light on a bedside table.
If, like Thomas Dane above, you're after a vintage Anglepoise lamp, perhaps to upcycle and re-lacquer or if you simply prefer a few characterful scratches and dents here and there, then eBay or Etsy are the places to head to. Original 1930s Herbert Terry models will be the priciest. As with any famous piece that is frequently imitated, authenticity is something to be aware of when buying second hand from somewhere like eBay.
As well as the ubiquitous desk lamp, Anglepoise also offer a range of wall lamps, some of which are based on the desk lamp's hinged, easily extendable design. A ceiling version in burgundy has been used in the Retrouvius kitchen below, so that the light can be used directionally wherever you need it whilst cooking. In a total contrast of style, three white wall lamps crouch on one wall of the airy kitchen in Alistair Hendy's Tudor house, waiting to spring out into action when needed.
Anglepoise lamps are so immediately appealing and familiar that animation company Pixar's mascot and branding feature an anthropomorphised version of the desk lamp, deriving from their 1986 short film Luxo Jr. The Luxo was in fact a tweaked version of an Anglepoise lamp, first produced in Oslo under license in 1938. It essentially stole Anglepoise's potential international market from under its own feet.
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Other, slightly more conventional wall lights are also produced by Anglepoise. These work well in small spaces, as seen in this window alcove in a children's bedroom by Spencer & Wedekind.
All in all, it's clear to see the impact that this little lamp with a big personality has had on the world of design, and investing in an authentic one is never a bad idea. Our prediction for Anglepoise is that, as it has for the last 90 years, it will continue to remain relevant, functional, and effortlessly stylish.
For more lighting ideas and inspiration, take a look at our shoppable guides to the best desk lamps, the best floor lamps and the best wall lamps to buy now.
