Bright idea: Slamp and Maison Montblanc light up Salone del Mobile

Slamp and Maison Montblanc desk lamp
Slamp and Maison Montblanc have collaborated on a new desk lamp
(Image credit: TBC)

A duo of diverse design brands are merging in a bright collaboration. Maison Montblanc’s pioneering writing heritage and Slamp’s dynamic light innovations will come together in a brand new desk lamp, set to launch during Salone del Mobile in Milan next week.

Designed by London-based design studio Analogia and titled ‘Overlay’, it’s pegged as ‘the ideal writing lamp’. This is clearly exemplified in its nifty switch technology: when you lift the writing instrument from the leather base, the lamp switches on (and vice versa).

Aside from this luxury touch, ‘Overlay’ has a refined and minimalist design that brings together the warm materials of leather for the base, brass for the angular stem and lashings of copper for the shade. Analogia further conceals the technological features in the sleek model, so there are no awkward switches or dimmers in sight – an ideal fit for a busy personal office desk.

The lamp taps into a new way of interacting with lighting as a lifestyle product, instead of just a piece of design. Maison Montblanc was inspired by the artisan craft in Slamp's HQ and boasts that 'Overlay' makes an ideal pairing with its iconic 'Meisterstück Le Grand' writing instrument. The fine gold detailing of that pen certainly looks elegant against the leather patch on the base.

The Italian lighting company is also launching a plethora of other designs at Euroluce, all which will be assembled in an immersive stand installation by American theatre director Robert Wilson. The set will also host a conversation on ‘The experience of light in art, architecture and design’, moderated by Wallpaper's very own Editor-in-Chief, Tony Chambers.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Slamp website and the Montblanc website

Sujata Burman is a writer and editor based in London, specialising in design and culture. She was Digital Design Editor at Wallpaper* before moving to her current role of Head of Content at London Design Festival and London Design Biennale where she is expanding the content offering of the showcases. Over the past decade, Sujata has written for global design and culture publications, and has been a speaker, moderator and judge for institutions and brands including RIBA, D&AD, Design Museum and Design Miami/. In 2019, she co-authored her first book, An Opinionated Guide to London Architecture, published by Hoxton Mini Press, which was driven by her aim to make the fields of design and architecture accessible to wider audiences.