The Mantis Lamp series, designed in 1951 by Bernard Schottlander, is a timeless exploration of movement, balance, and sculptural form. An admirer of Alexander Calder, Schottlander was deeply influenced by the elegance of kinetic art. His lamps reflect this fascination, embodying a delicate equilibrium between balance and imbalance, solidity and emptiness, lightness and gravity.
At the heart of the Mantis series is a clever system of counterweights paired with a network of strong yet flexible steel bars. This ingenious structure allows the lamps to move with fluid precision, their articulated arms offering a wide range of positions without sacrificing stability. Each lamp adapts effortlessly to its environment, whether serving as a focused reading light, a functional desk lamp, or a dramatic floor or wall fixture.
The shade itself is a work of art. Crafted from aluminium using spinning and chasing techniques, it captures a helical motion that is both symmetrical and asymmetrical. This creates a dynamic visual tension—like an acrobat suspended mid-air—giving the lamp its unique identity and sculptural presence. When illuminated, the shade casts light that is both practical and atmospheric, enhancing the surrounding space with elegance and subtle drama.
Schottlander’s Mantis collection transcends utility, inviting users into a world of refined poetry and balance. Much like Calder’s mobiles, these lamps appear to defy gravity, their forms at once delicate and commanding. Decades after their creation, the Mantis lamps remain icons of mid-century design, cherished for their ingenuity, timelessness, and ability to transform light into a visual and emotional experience.
At the heart of the Mantis series is a clever system of counterweights paired with a network of strong yet flexible steel bars. This ingenious structure allows the lamps to move with fluid precision, their articulated arms offering a wide range of positions without sacrificing stability. Each lamp adapts effortlessly to its environment, whether serving as a focused reading light, a functional desk lamp, or a dramatic floor or wall fixture.
The shade itself is a work of art. Crafted from aluminium using spinning and chasing techniques, it captures a helical motion that is both symmetrical and asymmetrical. This creates a dynamic visual tension—like an acrobat suspended mid-air—giving the lamp its unique identity and sculptural presence. When illuminated, the shade casts light that is both practical and atmospheric, enhancing the surrounding space with elegance and subtle drama.
Schottlander’s Mantis collection transcends utility, inviting users into a world of refined poetry and balance. Much like Calder’s mobiles, these lamps appear to defy gravity, their forms at once delicate and commanding. Decades after their creation, the Mantis lamps remain icons of mid-century design, cherished for their ingenuity, timelessness, and ability to transform light into a visual and emotional experience.
