Vitra Table Lamp Lampe De Bureau
Vitra Table Lamp Lampe De Bureau

Lampe De Bureau

$430

Made by Vitra

Designed by Jean Prouvé

Jean Prouvé designed the Lampe de Bureau in the 1950s as part of a complete suite of functional furnishings for the student residence halls at the Cité Universitaire in Nancy. The lamp is a study in honest construction: a single sheet of bent steel, shaped to direct light downward onto a work surface with quiet precision.

Vitra's reissue preserves the original proportions and the powder-coat colors Prouvé himself specified, keeping the object firmly in dialogue with its industrial origins. The power cable is sheathed in a textile casing, a detail that speaks to the care Prouvé brought even to utilitarian objects.

  • Formed from bent steel sheet with a powder-coat finish
  • Colors drawn directly from Prouvé's original palette
  • Textile-sheathed power cable
  • Designed for the Cité Universitaire, Nancy, 1950s
Color
Color: Japanese Red

Typically ships in 12-14 weeks.

Pairs well with

Product Details

Details
  • Material: powder-coated sheet steel, 1 bulb included.
  • Socket: E14
  • Light source: Osram Candle, frosted
  • Dimmability: no dimmer
  • Kelvin: 2700 K (warm white)
  • Max. watt: 12 W
  • Energy efficiency: A++
Measurements

H × W × D

8.75 × 9.50 × 5.75 in.
22.5 × 24 × 14.5 cm.

  • Metal
  • Glass
Shipping & Returns

Please refer to our shipping and return & exchange policy.

Warranty

Luminaire is an authorized retailer of Vitra. The product comes with a full manufacturer warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the history behind the Lampe de Bureau?

Jean Prouvé designed the Lampe de Bureau as part of a coordinated set of furnishings for the student residences at the Cité Universitaire in Nancy, France. The lamp reflects his broader commitment to industrially produced objects that remain honest about their construction and purpose.

What materials is the Lampe de Bureau made from?

The lamp is formed from a single bent sheet of steel and finished in powder-coat paint. The colors available correspond to the original hues Prouvé specified for the Nancy commission. The power cable is wrapped in a high-quality textile sheath.

Are Vitra's Prouvé reissues faithful to the originals?

Vitra produces its Jean Prouvé pieces in close collaboration with the Prouvé archive, maintaining original proportions, construction methods, and period-accurate finishes. The goal is historical fidelity rather than stylistic reinterpretation.

Is the Lampe de Bureau suitable for a professional workspace?

Yes. The lamp was conceived specifically for study and work environments, directing light downward onto a surface with minimal glare. Its compact footprint and directed beam make it well suited to desks, drafting tables, and studio settings.

How does the Lampe de Bureau fit within Jean Prouvé's design philosophy?

Prouvé believed that functional objects should be produced with the same rigor as structural architecture. The Lampe de Bureau exemplifies this: its form follows directly from the task of bending and folding sheet steel, with no applied ornament and no wasted gesture.

Brand & Designer

Vitra
Wooden Dolls

Vitra

Vitra is a Swiss contemporary design and furniture brand, founded in 1950 by Willi and Erika Fehlbaum in Birsfelden, Switzerland.
Jean Prouvé
Petite Potence

Jean Prouvé

A French designer and constructeur celebrated for structural clarity, industrial logic, and timeless furniture shaped by function, rigor, and innovation.