Uranus lamp by Max Sauze — France, 1970s

Magnificent Uranus table lamp designed by Max Sauze, emblematic of French design from the 1970s and the sculptural work of the designer around aluminium. Its cubic silhouette is built around a fine steel wire structure that holds a multitude of aluminium slats, carefully curved and arranged in a geometric rhythm. Once lit, the lamp reveals its full interest: the slats filter and fragment the light, creating a subtle play of shadows and transparencies that transforms the object into a true luminous sculpture. This immediately recognisable aesthetic is characteristic of Max Sauze's approach, who developed lighting fixtures based on the repetition and multiplication of aluminium modules on wire structures from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. The Uranus model, dated around 1970, is among his most emblematic creations. An emblematic piece of French Space Age. With its airy volume, geometric lines, and spectacular use of aluminium, the Uranus fully embodies the French Space Age aesthetic of the 1970s. Both graphic when off and particularly expressive when on, it is a characterful piece that naturally finds its place in a vintage interior as well as in contemporary decor.