The swivelling Potence Wall Lamp, created by Jean Prouvé in 1950 and manufactured by Vitra, is one of Prouvé’s most puristic masterpieces.
![Jean Prouvé](https://www.idesign.wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Immagine-2022-03-13-161517.png)
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/c75aea51-9168-4ba0-adab-8f54d8afb35d by jeanbaptisteparis
The Purity of Lines
Reduced to the essentials – a light bulb and a pivoting wall mount – the long swing arm wall light is made of powder-coated tubular steel with a beech wood handle. The lamp is controlled by a cord dimmer and comes equipped with a light bulb.
![Potence Lamp shown in a simple white, room.](https://www.idesign.wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Immagine-2022-03-13-161604.png)
Image source: https://www.archiproducts.com/en/products/vitra/led-steel-wall-lamp-with-fixed-arm-petite-potence_486453
Potence: An Elegant Masterpiece
Designed by Jean Prouvé for his own ground-breaking La Maison Tropicale, the Potence Lamp provides a unique solution for suspension lighting with its ingenious engineering and elegant form. Conceived as a pivoting structure, the fascination of this luminaire, which is over two meters long and dimmable, stems from the spareness of its materials and forms.
![Maison Tropicale showcasing the potence lamp on the wall.](https://www.idesign.wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Immagine-2022-03-13-161705.png)
Image source:https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/ecd26c1b-7430-4b8a-8840-9e67691dcbd4
Lamp Construction
Consisting of a single metal rod that extends two meters from a wall-mounted vertical bracket, this base-free lamp saves valuable floor space. Also, a simple handle with wood knob moves the entire lamp laterally to illuminate a 180-degree range of space, and an on-cord dimmer which allows easy light adjustment.
![LED steel wall lamp with fixed arm. 1947](https://www.idesign.wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Immagine-2022-03-13-161751.png)
Image source: https://www.archiproducts.com/en/products/vitra/led-steel-wall-lamp-with-fixed-arm-petite-potence_486453
Purist Design to Fit into Every Interior
As a child of its time, the Potence Wall Lamp displays minimalist materials. Also in its design, the wall lamp is distinguished by puristic shapes. Above the sofa or over the dining table, the two-meter wall lamp fits into many different interiors and provides a great atmosphere. Additionally, it uses classic light bulbs or energy-saving bulbs with E27 sockets.
![An example of the Potence Lamp in a modern interior.](https://www.idesign.wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Immagine-2022-03-13-161808.png)
Image source:https://www.archiproducts.com/en/products/vitra/led-steel-wall-lamp-with-fixed-arm-petite-potence_486453
Data Sheet
- Designer: Jean Prouvé
- Year of design: 1946
- Manufacturer: Vitra
- Materials: powder-coated tubular steel, beech wood, cord dimmer
- Bulb: 14W/G25/E26 CFL
![Technical drawing and measurements of the Potence Lamp.](https://www.idesign.wiki/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Immagine-2022-03-13-161820.png)
Image source: https://www.archiproducts.com/en/products/vitra/wall-lamp-with-fixed-arm-potence_277387
Info sources:
https://www.vitra.com/en-us/living/product/details/potence
https://www.dwr.com/lighting-wall-sconce/prouv%C3%A9-potence-lamp/2172.html?lang=en_US