French Industrial Clamp Lamp, Hammer Lacquer, Chrome, Alphonse Pinoit, 1940s, Jean Prouve Connection
Highlights:
Designer/Manufacturer: Alphonse Pinoit, Ki·É·Klair, Levallois-Perret, France
Model: 210
Period: 1940s
Origin: France
Style: French Industrial, Functionalism
Particulars: Patented double-joint chrome steel arm with ball joint; conical shade in grey-green hammer lacquer; chrome desk clamp; cream-white interior reflector; original French plug and cable; Jean Prouvé used Ki·É·Klair lamps in his design offices — a direct connection to one of the twentieth century's most significant designer-engineers; sold as collector's piece only, not for electrical operation
Ideal for: Collectors of French industrial design, Jean Prouvé admirers, design historians, decorative objects, studios and studies
Description:
The Ki·É·Klair Model 210 arrives with a provenance that no Swedish or Italian lamp can match: Jean Prouvé — the architect, engineer and designer whose furniture and buildings define the French modernist canon — used Ki·É·Klair lamps in his own design offices. That is not a marketing claim. It is a documented historical fact that places this lamp at the intersection of French industrial design and the highest level of modernist creative practice.
The lamp was designed by Alphonse Pinoit (1881–1961), a self-taught French engineer who opened his first workshop in Levallois-Perret near Paris in 1934 and registered the Ki·É·Klair brand — a phonetic play on "le lumineux" — shortly before the Second World War. Production ran from 1940 to 1960. The patented double-joint mechanism was a genuine technical innovation: a chrome steel arm with ball joint that allows precise three-dimensional positioning and holds any angle with complete stability.
The Model 210 clamp version is the most practical and most sought-after in the Ki·É·Klair range. It attaches to any desk or shelf edge via the original chrome clamp, leaving the workspace entirely clear. The conical shade in grey-green hammer lacquer — a finish with the same tactile depth as wrinkle lacquer, but with a finer, more uniform texture — is cream-white on the interior, maximising light reflection. The original French plug and cable are intact, a rare survival that confirms the lamp's unrestored, all-original condition.
This lamp is sold exclusively as a historical collector's piece and decorative object. The electrical components have not been updated and connection to 230V mains is not recommended. Should electrical use be desired, complete rewiring by a certified electrician is mandatory.
Condition:
The lamp is in very good original vintage condition. The grey-green hammer lacquer is intact. The chrome arm and clamp show light age-appropriate patina. The ball joint functions and holds position. The original French plug and cable are present. All original — nothing replaced or restored.
Details:
Designer/Manufacturer: Alphonse Pinoit, Ki·É·Klair, Levallois-Perret, France
Model: 210 (clamp version)
Period: 1940s
Style: French Industrial, Functionalism
Material: Chrome steel, hammer lacquer (grey-green), cream-white interior
Mechanism: Patented double-joint with ball joint
Mounting: Chrome desk clamp
Cable: Original French plug and cable intact
Socket: E27
Condition: Very good original vintage condition, all original
Note: Sold as collector's piece only — not for electrical operation without professional rewiring
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.
[TAB: WEE Nr.] 70030832 [\TAB]
Product Safety
This object is offered exclusively as a historical collector's piece and decorative object. The existing electrical components do not meet current technical standards and have not been updated. Connection to the 230V mains is explicitly not recommended for safety reasons. The object is not suitable for electrical operation in its current condition and is not sold as a functioning electrical appliance. Should electrical use be desired, a complete rewiring by a certified electrician is mandatory. Responsibility for any electrical installation lies solely with the buyer.
Manufacturer
Ki·É·Klair – Alphonse Pinoit Alphonse Pinoit (1881–1961) was a self-taught French engineer who opened his first workshop in Levallois-Perret near Paris in 1934. Shortly before the Second World War, he registered the brand Ki·É·Klair – a phonetic play on words for "le lumineux" – and launched a line of articulated professional work lamps produced from 1940 to 1960. The patented double-joint mechanism was a technical innovation of its time – Jean Prouvé used Ki·É·Klair lamps in his design offices.