Otto Krügger for ClassiCon

OTTO KRÚGGER (Germany, 1868–1938) for ClassiCon.
“Tragara” Double Table Lamp, 1980s.
Nickel-plated metal and opal glass.
In good condition. Wiring not inspected.
Bibliography: Charlotte and Peter Fiell, 1000 Lights 1878–1959, Vol. 1, Cologne 2005, p. 123.
Measurements: 57 x 80 x 28 cm.
Table lamp with two articulated arms, “Tragara” model, originally designed in 1908 by Franz August Otto Krüger for the Vereinigte Werkstätten für Kunst im Handwerk in Munich. The composition is centered around a central shaft resting on a slightly domed circular base, from which two adjustable arms extend, topped by conical opal glass shades. The “Tragara” is a particularly interesting example of the transition from German Jugendstil to early 20th-century modern design. In contrast to the more exuberant floral ornamentation of Jugendstil, Krüger presents here an essentially geometric composition based on symmetry. The system of two adjustable arms also adds a functional dimension that was particularly advanced for the time of its design. The name “Tragara” is associated with Capri: in 1895, Krüger had presented a painting titled *Il Porto Tragara* (Capri) at the Munich Secession exhibition.
The significance of this lamp is reinforced by its historical revival, as the model was reissued by ClassiCon, Munich, during the 1980s, albeit for a relatively brief period.
Otto Krügger, a German landscape painter and designer, began his studies in painting in Munich in 1889, first at the Nauen-Fehr private school and later with Hans von Bartels and Peter Paul Müller. Beginning in the 1890s, he participated in exhibitions at the Münchener Sezession and the Glaspalast in Munich. In 1898, he began to take a more direct interest in the applied arts, designing frames for the annual Munich exhibition. His role in the Vereinigte Werkstätten für Kunst im Handwerk was pivotal from the company’s earliest years. In 1901, he moved to Stuttgart, where he was associated with the Lehr- und Versuchswerkstätten, and later returned to Munich. In 1909, he moved to Berlin, where he ran a workshop dedicated to the applied arts together with Bruno Paul.