Frequently Bought Together
Designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1924 at the Bauhaus metal workshop, the WG24 — known simply as "the Bauhaus lamp" — distilled the new movement's principle of form following function into a single object. Our reproduction brings that quiet geometry to your bedside, desk, or living room console with a handblown opal glass dome, chrome stem, and mint-green tinted glass disk base.
About Wilhelm Wagenfeld
Wilhelm Wagenfeld (1900–1990) was a German industrial designer who entered the Bauhaus in Weimar in 1923 and trained under László Moholy-Nagy in the metal workshop. The WG24 table lamp began as a student exercise: Moholy-Nagy challenged his class to design a light source that used only standard, industrially produced parts. Wagenfeld, working alongside fellow student Carl Jacob Jucker, answered with a circular glass base, a transparent shaft, a chromed metal stem and an opal glass dome — every component visible, every junction honest.
Critics at the time called it cold; Wagenfeld defended it as "an inexpensive object for mass production." A century on, the WG24 is held in the permanent collections of MoMA and the Bauhaus-Archiv, and is widely considered one of the foundational objects of modern industrial design.
Materials & Craftsmanship
Our reproduction follows the original Wagenfeld specification:
- Dome shade: handblown opal glass, diffusing the bulb into a soft, even glow with no visible filament.
- Stem: polished chrome-plated metal with a clear glass tube revealing the internal cord — a direct quote of the 1924 design.
- Base: tempered glass disk in a soft mint-green tint, weighted for stability on bedside tables and desks.
- Switch: traditional pull-chain at the socket, in keeping with the period detailing.
Because the dome is handblown, each shade carries minute variations in wall thickness and opacity — the marks of a genuinely hand-finished piece rather than a flaw.
Specifications
| Overall height | 14.17" / 36 cm |
|---|---|
| Shade diameter | 7" / 18 cm |
| Base diameter | 6" / 15 cm |
| Shade | Handblown opal glass dome |
| Stem | Chrome-plated metal with clear glass tube |
| Base | Tinted mint-green tempered glass disk |
| Bulb socket | E27 (E26-compatible in US fixtures) |
| Bulb included | 7W LED, 680 lumens, 3 color temperatures (warm / neutral / cool white), dimmable |
| Switch | Pull-chain at socket |
| Voltage | 100–240V universal; US, EU, or JP plug fitted to shipping destination |
Care & Assembly
The lamp arrives nearly complete: lift the dome, thread the included LED bulb into the E27 socket, replace the dome, and plug in. No tools required, and the whole process takes under a minute.
To clean the opal dome and glass base, lift the dome off, wipe both with a soft microfiber cloth lightly dampened with warm water — no abrasive sprays, which can etch the opal surface. Dry immediately to prevent water spots on the tinted base. The chrome stem polishes with a dry microfiber cloth; for fingerprints, use a touch of dedicated chrome polish on the cloth rather than directly on the stem. To replace the bulb, always unplug first, allow the bulb to cool, then lift the dome straight up before unscrewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bulb does it take?
A standard E27 screw-base bulb up to 40W incandescent equivalent. We include a 7W LED with three color temperatures and dimming built into the bulb. E27 and E26 bulbs are physically interchangeable in this fixture, so US-market LED bulbs will also fit.
Is the dome real handblown glass?
Yes. Each opal dome is mouth-blown and finished by hand, which is why slight differences in wall thickness, opacity, and the seam at the rim are visible from piece to piece. These are characteristic of handblown glass and not defects.
Does it dim?
The included LED bulb is dimmable via its built-in three-stage temperature switch (warm / neutral / cool), and it is also compatible with standard plug-in LED dimmers should you want continuous control. The pull-chain at the socket is the on/off only.
Is it safe for bedside use?
Yes. The weighted glass base keeps the lamp stable on a nightstand, the LED bulb runs cool to the touch, and the opal dome diffuses light evenly so it will not glare directly into your eyes when reading. The pull-chain switch is easy to find in the dark without fumbling for a wall outlet.
Where does this lamp fit historically?
The WG24 was designed in 1924 by Wilhelm Wagenfeld at the Bauhaus metal workshop in Weimar, under the direction of László Moholy-Nagy. It is considered one of the earliest and clearest expressions of Bauhaus industrial design principles, and is in the permanent collections of MoMA in New York and the Bauhaus-Archiv in Berlin.
Shipping & Returns
Free US shipping (typically arrives within 1–2 weeks). 30-day free returns. See our shipping policy and refund policy.
