W-1809 OP-ART WALL LAMP IN OPAL GLASS BY RAAK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1970s

A RARE AND DISTINCTIVE OP-ART WALL LAMP PRODUCED BY RAAK AMSTERDAM DURING THE 1970s. THE SCULPTURAL DESIGN COMBINES AN ASYMMETRICALLY SHAPED SHADE IN WHITE OPAL GLASS WITH A CONTRASTING ANTHRACITE-BLACK BAKELITE WALL MOUNT. THE MODEL IS DOCUMENTED IN THE RAAK CATALOGUE OF 1978 AND IS SELDOM SEEN ON THE VINTAGE MARKET.

THE NAME OP-ART REFERS TO OPTICAL ART, AN ARTISTIC MOVEMENT THAT EXPLORES VISUAL EFFECTS THROUGH FORM, CONTRAST, LIGHT AND SHADOW. THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE BEAUTIFULLY EXPRESSED IN THIS DESIGN: WHEN ILLUMINATED, THE IRREGULARLY SHAPED OPAL GLASS DIFFUSES A SOFT, ATMOSPHERIC GLOW WHILE CREATING A SUBTLE INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW ON THE WALL.

RAAK AMSTERDAM CREATED A COMPACT YET HIGHLY SCULPTURAL WALL LIGHT THAT PERFECTLY REFLECTS RAAK’S EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH TO LIGHTING DESIGN. ITS ORGANIC GLASS FORM AND STRONG CONTRAST BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE GIVE THE LAMP A STRIKING APPEARANCE, BOTH SWITCHED ON AND OFF.