Details

Title

Ceiling Light

Artist/Maker

Marianne Brandt,Schwintzer & Gräff

Date

1926

Medium

Aluminum and nickel-plated brass, Bakelite, and porcelain electric fittings

Dimensions

Contact the museum for more information

Credit

Purchase with funds from the Decorative Arts Acquisition Endowment

Accession #

2024.4

Location

On View - Stent Family Wing, Level 2, Gallery 207

By the 1920s, electric lights had largely replaced gas lamps, but the fixtures—bulky chandeliers and sconces—remained. Aiming to “liberate” the light bulb from these outdated forms, Marianne Brandt created sleek designs at the Bauhaus Metal Workshop from 1924 to 1929 and contracted local manufacturers to produce them. Brandt was one of the few students to actually sell their products. In addition to her lamp designs, she created everyday items like ashtrays, coffee sets, and teapots, often combining functionality with aesthetic appeal. She was also one of only two women to rise to a leadership role at the school, which promoted gender equality but often failed to deliver on its promises.