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14 - USSR Scientific Research Institute of Lighting "Excelsior" o…
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Estimate €900 - €1,200
Sale commission
Description
USSR Scientific Research Institute of Lighting "Excelsior" or "Tomato" Lamp Plastic and brass Date of creation: 1980 H40 D40 cm Established against the backdrop of Soviet industrial development, the USSR Scientific Research Institute of Lighting (VNISI) played a central role in the design of lighting fixtures intended for public and domestic spaces across the Soviet Union. Its creations reflect a desire to reconcile technical innovation, mass production and aesthetic research. Today, the models produced by this organisation are particularly prized for their status as icons of Soviet design from the second half of the 20th century. With its instantly recognisable spherical shape, the Excelsior lamp, also known as the Tomato, is one of the most iconic models of Soviet design from the 1980s. Made from plastic and brass, it reflects the era’s fascination with simple geometric shapes and industrial materials. Its large circular shade, combined with a minimalist structure, gives it a playful yet futuristic presence, characteristic of the space-age aesthetic that defined design in the Eastern Bloc countries at the time. At the crossroads of functionalism and formal experimentation, this lamp has now become a sought-after piece among enthusiasts of Soviet design and 20th-century furniture.
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About the sale Sculptural furniture and functional art
Auction location
Auction time 06/25/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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