Tala X David Weeks
The Reflection range marks the first installment in a trilogy of design collaborations between acclaimed New York designer David Weeks and the London-based lighting brand Tala. As Tala’s inaugural international design partnership, Weeks introduces a whimsical interpretation of Tala’s revered light bulb designs, creating four elegant table lamps that echo the shapes and finishes of the bulbs.
Crafted from the finest porcelain, the semi-translucent material is hand-thrown and fired twice to achieve the reflective glaze that embellishes the top third of the lamp, defining its character. Each lamp is meticulously hand-adjusted and measured to ensure a precise fit with the bulb, resulting in a stunning harmony between the lamp and the bulb.
Featuring an inline dimmer, the lamps offer Tala’s signature high-performance LED dimming, which heightens the lamps’ playful essence.
“I wanted to make a modern, less frilly version of a side lamp wherein the shape of the bulb makes up the volume of the form. The porcelain base has an organic softness that still feels very clean and unfussy. We circled the joint of the lamp with a high gloss glaze, a subtle detail that really activates the innate elegance of its modest form."
“Asymmetry is achieved by working backward, starting at the end. We decide where we want the bulbs to go and then solve the problem of getting them there. This way awkwardness always has remedy; it gets reconciled along the way. The result is off-kilter but wholly balanced.” – David Weeks
“Collaborating with Tala was a really energizing experience for us. Because we make so much of what we do, our quantities are necessarily limited by our capacity. It’s exciting to be working on a bigger scale, bringing more product to more people. There’s a real sense of opportunity in freeing up design from so much of the making, finding new ways of tapping into the rhythm of the studio.”
Marking a first exploration away from the wood and metal-based fixtures that have defined Tala’s catalogue thus far, the delicate and exquisite finish of the lamps represent a new chapter for the brand, spearheaded by new CEO, Eric Magun. He writes:
"Partnering with David was a natural fit for the brand, as we look to elevate the LED bulb by honouring it in its most natural form. The Reflection series is exactly that, an artistic impression of a light form, deliberate on materials used, and a meditation of what it means to celebrate conservation through beauty."
Reflection will officially launch online and from selected retailers from December 2020 with two further design ranges by David Weeks, ‘Echo’ and ‘Mirage’ will launch in 2021.
