Willy Daro

WILLY DARO (Belgium, 1918–1990).
Sculptural table lamp.
1970s.
Brass, polished agate sections, and wooden base.
Fabric shade.
Condition: The fabric shade has a small, isolated tear
Measurements: 85 x 60 x 29 cm; 64 cm high without the shade.

This lamp belongs to one of Willy Daro’s most characteristic designs, in which the lighting takes on a distinctly sculptural character. Its structure depicts three large flowers arranged on curvilinear brass stems, with petals formed by sections of agate that reveal different veining, translucencies, and natural hues, and centers that combine gold and silver brass. The hallmarks of the mineral richness of the stones, the gold finish of the metal, and the understated rectangular wooden base reinforce the composition’s ornamental exuberance.

Willy Daro was one of the most distinctive figures in Belgian decorative design during the second half of the 20th century. From Les Nouveaux Ateliers Willy Daro, established in Brussels in the early 1960s, he developed a design language situated at the intersection of lighting, sculpture, and the decorative arts, deliberately distancing himself from the more austere functionalism of modern design.
His work is distinguished by its incorporation of agates, crystals, fossils, corals, and other natural elements into brass and bronze structures, respecting the form, grain, and unique variations of each specimen. Through these combinations, they created objects with a striking sculptural presence, often inspired by flowers, branches, and organic forms, reflecting the exuberant and sophisticated taste of the 1960s and 1970s. The lamps made of brass and agate are currently one of the most recognizable and sought-after aspects of his work.