(breaking) Heart Lamp by Philipp Käfer

About This Piece

Contemporary Design

Designed by up-and-coming, Berlin-based designer Philipp Käfer, the clever (breaking) Heart features a neon ring framed by a folded, mirrored surface. When one changes his or her position relative to the mirror, the reflection of the ring is broken into segments. From a head-on perspective, the reflection appears as a complete heart. But take a small step left or right and the image of the heart splinters into segments.

A heart is one of the most commonly used icons in communication. Depending on the context, it can imply a range of meanings, from a simple, pure love to a more commercial, buyable "love." (breaking) Heart Lamp is inspired by the neon signs that illuminate the kind of nightlife promising pleasure and distraction. In response to one's own subtle movements, the image of a circle, a basic geometrical shape, is broken apart and rearranged into a heart, an inter-culturally intelligible symbol. This design is made from mirrored stainless steel with a neon tube light.

Please note that this piece is only available with a 230 V European bulb holder and cannot be modified for the US market.

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Creator	Philipp Käfer
Design Period	From 2000
Country of Manufacture	Germany
Identifying Marks	Imprinted by maker
Style	Contemporary
Detailed Condition	Exhibition Piece — This piece is not pre-owned, but has been used for display purposes and might show minor signs of wear.
Product Code	CPK-161352
Additional Information	Made by Hand
Materials	Steel, Neon Lamps
Color	Silver
Width	30 cm 11.8 inch
Depth	20 cm 7.9 inch
Height	30 cm 11.8 inch
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.

Shipping & Delivery

Manufacturing Time	We will contact you in regards to lead time when the order is placed.
Ships from	Germany
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.
Returns	Returns accepted within two days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items
Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.

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

Philipp Käfer

Designer Philipp Käfer was born in Neuburg an der Donau, in Bavaria, Germany in 1982. Between 2002 and 2008, he studied integrated product design at Germany’s Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts (commonly called Hochschule Coburg), graduating with a diploma (Dipl-Designer FH). In 2008, he interned at Blue Sky Design Group in Sydney, Australia. While there, he worked on various industrial design projects, though the bulk of his attention was focused on conceiving affordable housing options for indigenous Australians in remote areas. In 2009, Käfer moved to Amsterdam, where he divided his time between roles at two highly respected designers’ studios: Gijs Bakker Design and Joris Laarman Studio. He began as a design intern for Bakker, ultimately being promoted to a freelance designer position. In his work for Laarman, he built prototypes and gallery pieces. Looking back, Käfer notes, “This was a very important period for me; it expanded my entire perception of design.”

In 2011, Käfer moved to Berlin. There he worked for Vorschub, an art and prototyping workshop that serves illustrious art world clientele, and as a freelance designer at Hella Jongerius’s studio. Two years later, in 2013, he established his eponymous design studio in Berlin. He focuses on experimental and material-driven furniture, lighting, and product designs, and works both on self-driven projects as well as freelance assignments for the likes of Bakker, Jongerius, and various production companies.

As of this writing, standout projects include the 2015 ReTree furniture series, composed of molded wooden chips; as well as the 2013 No Cardboard! Project, a minimalist furniture series that makes use of a lightweight aluminum technology more commonly associated with aircraft and maritime construction; the latter series combines the cleverness of corrugated cardboard with the durability and aesthetic of metal. Käfer’s 2012 Reading Lamp wittily comments on the concept of conservation. The lamp stands on a base with multiple electrical sockets, encouraging users to plug additional appliances directly into it. However, as more electricity is needed for the added appliances, the weaker the Reading Lamp’s light becomes. Finally, Käfer’s 2011 Merging Bodies silicone beaded necklace, which was made for Gijs Bakker’s conceptual jewelry project, Chp…?, is included in the Chi ha paura…? collection of the Stedelijk Museum 's-Hertogenbosch.