It may seem an unusual source of inspiration for an electric light, but the human arm lay behind the original idea for our unrivalled Anglepoise designer desk lamps. In the early 1930s, George Carwardine wanted an easily positioned, moveable light source for his workforce, to help them assemble tiny components for automobile suspension units. With its three springs and metal ‘elbow’ frame, the very first Anglepoise lamp was the solution he devised. Simple but revolutionary, news of Carwardine’s workplace desk lamps spread like wildfire. He soon began fashioning a more stylish designer desk lamp based on the same principles for the home market.

Today, his basic design remains, even if we’ve added a few dashes of panache along the way. To honour the 75th birthday of Carwardine’s invention, we re-launched the original designer desk lamp: constructed with aluminium arms and a heavily weighted base, the Type 1227 is available in five striking finishes – black, cream, signal red, cobalt blue and gleaming chrome. It may look retro, but it’s a timelessly stylish example of the very best in designer desk lamps.

We now have an impressive range of ingeniously functional and modishly beautiful designer desk lamps to choose from, all of which preserve the classic Anglepoise core design but add various subtle style innovations. Several of our designer lamps can sit on your desk with a table base, or a jewel-like chrome desk clamp, attach to a wall with a wall mounting, or rise from the floor on a floor pole. These include the Type 1228 with its graceful transparent shade (available in five different colours), the gleaming ‘retro-futuristic’ Type 3 with its chrome finish, and the ever popular Type 75 with its subtly revised 1932 contours.

If you’re seeking designer desk lamps which combine superb functionality with aesthetically delightful contours, just take a browse through our fantastic range today.