Bauhaus Desk Lamp, Kandem 0342, Bakelite, Marianne Brandt, VEB Leipzig, 1950s, Collectible
Highlights:
Designer: Marianne Brandt & Hin Bredendieck (Bauhaus Dessau)
Manufacturer: VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig (LBL), successor to Kandem / Körting & Mathiesen
Model: Kandem 0342
Period: 1950s
Origin: Leipzig, Germany
Style: Bauhaus, Functionalism
Particulars: Hemispherical brown Bakelite shade with silver inner reflector; pivoting Bakelite joint head for directional adjustment; weighted round base with integrated switch; embossed model number 0342 and VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig marking confirming authenticity; 2 pieces available
Ideal for: Desks, studies, home offices, collectors of Bauhaus design and German industrial lighting
Description:
The Kandem 0342 is one of the most historically significant desk lamps to have emerged from the Bauhaus era. Originally developed in close collaboration between Körting & Mathiesen — the Leipzig manufacturer behind the Kandem brand — and the Bauhaus Dessau workshop led by Marianne Brandt and Hin Bredendieck, the 0342 distils the core Bauhaus principles of functional clarity, material honesty and industrial elegance into a single object of enduring utility.
The lamp's design logic is immediately legible: a weighted round base provides stability, an articulated Bakelite joint allows the hemispherical shade to be directed with precision, and a silver inner reflector concentrates and directs the light efficiently. Every element serves a function. Nothing is superfluous. This is the Bauhaus idea in its most disciplined form.
Following the expropriation of Körting & Mathiesen in 1948, production continued under VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig — the state-owned GDR successor that inherited the factory, the expertise and numerous proven Kandem models. The lamps produced under VEB retain full design continuity with the original Bauhaus period, while carrying the embossed VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig marking that precisely dates them to the post-war production era. For collectors, this provenance context adds a layer of historical depth that the pre-war originals cannot offer.
The embossed model number 0342 is clearly legible, providing unambiguous authentication. Two pieces are available.
Condition:
Both lamps are in very good vintage condition. The Bakelite shade and joint are intact with no cracks. The silver inner reflector is present. The weighted base is stable. The integrated switch functions. The electrical components should be inspected by a qualified electrician before use.
Details:
Designer: Marianne Brandt & Hin Bredendieck (Bauhaus Dessau)
Manufacturer: VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig (LBL), successor to Kandem
Model: 0342
Period: 1950s
Style: Bauhaus, Functionalism
Material: Brown Bakelite, steel, chrome, silver reflector
Marking: Embossed model number 0342 and VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig
Condition: Very good vintage condition
Socket: E27
Note:
Please note: This item is a vintage lamp. It was manufactured many years ago and may not conform to current technical standards. Before use, the electrical components should be inspected and, if necessary, updated by a qualified electrician. Bulbs are only included if explicitly stated. This item is sold as a collectible/antique and not as a standards-compliant electrical appliance.
WEE Nr.
70030832
Product Safety
This lamp is an original vintage piece. Prior to sale, a visual and functional inspection was carried out (cable, plug, socket, strain relief) as well as a test run. It has not been comprehensively tested in accordance with current VDE standards. Due to its age, the electrical components may pose risks (e.g. aged insulation, missing earth conductor). Before connecting to the 230V mains, it is therefore strongly recommended to have the lamp inspected and, if necessary, updated by a qualified electrician. Use is at the owner's own risk.
Manufacturer
VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig (LBL) VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig, or LBL for short, was founded in 1951 as a state-owned enterprise in the GDR and was the direct successor to the legendary company Körting & Mathiesen – better known under the brand name Kandem. Kandem had built one of Germany's mos VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig (LBL) VEB Leuchtenbau Leipzig, or LBL for short, was founded in 1951 as a state-owned enterprise in the GDR and was the direct successor to the legendary company Körting & Mathiesen – better known under the brand name Kandem. Kandem had built one of Germany's most significant lamp factories in Leipzig since 1889 and from 1928 developed pioneering lamps in close collaboration with the Bauhaus Dessau, among others with Marianne Brandt and Hin Bredendieck. Following the expropriation of the company in 1948 and a transitional period under the name "Lelifa", the newly founded LBL took over the production facilities, the expertise and numerous proven models from the Kandem era, continuing them in post-war production. From 1990 under Treuhand supervision, the company was converted into Leipziger Leuchten GmbH in 1993. The West German Kandem line had already been refounded in 1950 by Fritz Körting in Limburg an der Lahn and today belongs to the Dr. Fischer Group.