Midgard Hospital Scissor Lamp by Curt Fischer, 1930s

About This Piece

Vintage Design

Extendable scissor mechanism - Original white paint - Steel shade - Takes E27 fitting bulbs - On/Off Bakelite Switch on the shade - Designed by Curt Fischer - Produced by Midgard, Auma - German ~ 1930s - 16cm wide x 38cm tall - Extends up to 100cm from the wall.

Curt Fischer/Midgard Midgard was founded in 1919 in Auma / Thuringia by the engineer Curt Fischer. Originally for internal needs of his machine factory IWA Ronneberger & Fischer (industrial plant Auma), Curt Fischer developed scissors lamps and articulated lamps. This is why he is considered the inventor of the "tractable light". The in these days widespread ceiling-mounted pendulous lampshades provided only static light from above. As such, the entrepreneur regarded them as rather inflexible. This type of lightning caused the workers to cast shadow over their workpieces themselves. Curt Fischer sketched and manufactured first prototypes of articulated lamps by passing the live cable through tubes and developing articulations between the tubes. He perfected the system, developed many multi-armed desk lamps, work lamps and wall lamps. Within few years he turned to be a luminaire manufacturer which he called Midgard (as the Norse Mythology called the bright Middle Earth inhabited by people). Early on his designs were recognised and valued by Walter Gropius, among others, and hence used at the Bauhaus. Gropius supported Fischer's developments. Their original correspondence has been preserved until the present day. The post-war period Curt Fischer passes away in 1956. His son Wolfgang takes over management in the spirit of his father's. Up until in the late 60s Midgard produced their meanwhile three luminaire ranges: - the historic Steering Lamps, which were used among others at the Bauhaus - the robust and modular as well as maintenance-free Machine Lamp - the Springloaded Lamp.

Condition: Fully rewired with modern electrical components, some patina to the original paint in places

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* The cable of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise.

Creator	Curt Fischer
Design Period	1890 to 1919
Production Period	1890 to 1919
Country of Manufacture	Germany
Identifying Marks	This piece has an attribution mark
Style	Vintage, Industrial, Bauhaus
Detailed Condition	Good — This vintage/antique item may have some wear such as scratches and other signs of ageing.
	The vendor has confirmed this piece is in working order.
Restoration and Damage Details	Patina consistent with age and use, Rewired and/or new electrical components, Rewired
Plug Type	UK Plug (up to 250V)
Product Code	MGO-1307202
Materials	Bakelite, Paint, Steel
Color	White
Width	16 cm 16 cm
Depth	100 cm 100 cm
Height	38 cm 38 cm
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	United Kingdom
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Details

Delivery will be completed by a parcel service such as UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
You will receive a tracking number to monitor the status of your shipment.
Delivery will take place between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine the packaging upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damaged packaging, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note, take pictures, and—if the item inside shows damages—contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations regarding damaged packaging represents your acceptance of the completed order in perfect condition.

About the Creator

Curt Fischer

Curt Fischer (1890-1956) was a German industrial designer and engineer who is credited with inventing directional light with the first articulated, steerable light. Fischer’s designs were a particular inspiration to the seminal designer-architect Walter Gropius and the Bauhaus school, which laid the foundations of modernist design and architecture.

No biographical information is available on Fischer’s formative years and education, however it is known that Fischer worked as an engineer at IWA (Industriewerk Auma), a factory which produced metal parts and tools for the production of industrial porcelain. Up until the 1920s, the only available factory lighting was ceiling-mounted pendants, which provided static light and often casted unwanted shadows. Even before well known desk lamp designs by Christian Dell or Marianne Brandt were conceived, Fischer realized there was a need for flexible lighting in industrial settings. Originally designed to use at IWA, Fischer created a light that could be articulated and steered. The first prototype, which Fischer sketched and made himself, featured articulated tubes in which the cable could pass and bend freely. In 1919, he established the lighting brand Midgard as a subsection of IWA, which was newly acquired by Fischer. Originally designed to use at IWA, the Scissor Lamp (1919), which was patented on November 26, 1919, featured articulated tubes in which the cable could pass and bend freely. In 1922, Fischer designed the first glare-free reflector, which was rotatable and asymmetrical. The reflector ensured optimal directed light and protected the eyes of the factory worker using the light.

Fischer’s lights were used in industrial settings including on ships, in workshops, and in the private sector. Walter Gropius admired Fischer and was an active supporter of his experimental products. Gropius used Midgard lights in the living room of his house at the Dessau Bauhaus. The metal workshop at the Weimar Bauhaus was illuminated with Midgard lights and served as a model for the students’ designs.

Curt Fischer’s collection for Midgard includes the scissor-like 112 Trellis Wall Light (1922); the 113 Table Light (c. 1925), which is also known as the Whip Lamp due to its curved stem; the articulated 114 Hinge Lamp (1920s); the Machine Lamp (1930s) which features patented, maintenance-free joints; and the Spring-Loaded Lamp (1950s).

Fischer passed away in 1956.

Today, Midgard is owned by David Einsiedler and Joke Rasch, founders of of the Hamburg-based furniture company PLY, who continue to produce Fischer’s original designs.