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- Modern Table Lamps
Modern Table Lamps
The Modern style is characterised by a monochromatic palette, clean lines, and the combination of using natural and manufactured materials. It is a style that emerged in the early twentieth century under the Modernism Movement and has continued to influence many succeeding art styles we know today.
Modern table lamps manifest the distinct features of this design theme. Neutral colours and finishes such a beige, black, white, and grey coat the table lamps whose bases are made from wood, glass, concrete, or metal and paired with linen or cotton shades. With its minimal to no ornamentations mantra, Modern table lamps portray the importance of practicality and functionality over decorations and aesthetics.
Zest Lighting brings you our curated collection of Modern table lamps suitable for the needs and style of your spaces. Add a touch of quiet allure and no-nonsense-frills to your homes with a carefully-designed Modern table lamp.
We look forward to sharing our zest for Modern table lamps with you.
The Short History of the Modern Style
The Modern style was the birth child between the Scandinavian style’s love for simplicity and functionality and the German Bauhaus School of Design’s advocacy towards minimalism and fine art. It was popularised with the Modernism movement, whose ideology centred on the “form follows function” philosophy. It combatted the maximalist tendencies promoted by the Victorian style and was widely implemented in numerous architectures, paintings, and fashions. Its fame temporarily diminished after World War II, but was reborn again as a new style that combined the elements of other renowned aesthetics, the Contemporary style we know as of today.
Defining Elements of the Modern Style
The crucial belief in the Modern style is that any object’s form should follow its function. In other words, the design of the fittings, buildings, and even decorations should reflect the purpose of the object, and anything that doesn’t follow this rule must be eliminated. Hence, the Modern style is famed to be one of the most uncomplicated aesthetic themes, with artisans and designers alike creating lovely pieces faithful to its design elements.
Naturally, the design of Modern table lamps should also follow its purpose, which is to provide illumination on tables and desk spaces. To know how to identify a Modern style table lamp, here are the notable key features of the Modern style:
- Clean and Strong Lines: Linear elements are favoured in the Modern style. Hence, you may see many geometric shapes in Modern table lamps. In particular, vertical and horizontal lines and angular forms with fewer curves are most prevalent in their designs.
- Near-Total Zero Decor: The Modern design is famous for having no superfluous details in its forms. If a carving is unnecessary, then omit it from the design plan. Hence, many Modern table lamps are bare and plain, but that doesn’t limit their potential and charm to be exceptional home and office desk lights.
- Neutral or Monochromatic Colours: The Modern design loves natural and neutral colours. Beiges, whites, blacks, browns, and taupes - the Modern style readily embraces tones of nature in its pieces. A one-colour palette with many shades is the most pleasing to the eye. Bold hues and synthetic patterns are reduced or eradicated in its design repertoire.
- Natural Materials: Natural wood and wood veneers are the most welcome for the Modern style. Designers and artisans include leather, linen, and those made from natural fibres in their material choices. Polished materials such as chrome, stainless steel, and glass are celebrated as they reflect natural light on their surfaces.
- The Concept of Continuity: The Modern style loves open-air floor plans and anything that creates a seamless transition between a space to another. By extension, Modern table lamps follow this ideology. With the right colours, textures, finishes, and materials, Modern table lamps can emit a constant flow of design in their most basic forms.
Modern VS Other Aesthetics
In an English dictionary, the terms "modern" and "contemporary" are synonymous. Hence, beginner buyers often interchange their terms when describing architectural and art styles. However, the "Modern style" is an entirely different ideology to "Contemporary style" for designers and art practitioners. To clarify, the former places importance on a monochromatic palette used on natural materials to create stunning pieces with little-to-no decorations. On the other hand, the latter is an aesthetic theme that plays around the essence of simplicity to create fun, spontaneous and versatile masterpieces. The former emerged as a top design theme during the 1930s, while the latter captivated the eye of the masses half a century later.
On the other hand, as one of the "parent" ideas, the Scandinavian style has a few similarities and differences with the Modern style. Both rejoice in the emptiness of space. However, the Scandinavian style lauds the practicality and the sense of lightness that an empty space gives. In contrast, the Modern style, influenced by Minimalism, takes joy in the symbolism of the void space - uncluttered, unburdened, unobstructed by any distraction.
On another note, Mid Century style, or MCM, is categorised under the Modern style as it also follows the ideology behind "form follows function". The main difference between them is that the former uses more dynamic and decorative accents in its design plans, unlike the traditional Modern design, which favours little to no ornamentations.
Shop Modern and Contemporary table lamps online at Zest Lighting. We have a vast range of lighting collections and can deliver them Australia-wide, including free shipping to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, and their surrounding areas. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.