Rougier tube lamp | Unknown Designer | Rougier, Canada | ca. 1970

Unknown Designer
Rougier, Canada, ca. 1970

Rougier was a Canadian company that specialized in bedroom sets, dressers, nightstands, coffee tables and the like. And also lamps, let’s not forget the lamps. The lamps are often made of ornate acrylic forms hinting at flowers or sea-life. A good selection of designs can be found by searching 1stdibs. The furniture items and lamps come up on eBay occasionally. The tube lamps are especially popular and their price is commensurate with their popularity. They are also less frequently seen and can easily fetch more than $1,000.

The Rougier label. Sometimes the name is mistaken as “Roucier” because the cap that makes the ‘C’ a ‘G’ is barely visible.

In the words of Bernd Schneider, “This must be the best-selling lamp series of our galaxy!” Apparently, this design was a favorite of the prop department at Star Trek, because the lamp, all four versions of it, are featured in Star Trek. The Wrath of Khan (II), The Search For Spock (III), Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It’s also appeared on Stargate Atlantis. Check out the site Ex Astris Scientia for a neat look at (often modern) reused props. The models of the tube lamp, sometimes called the “brain lamp” are as follows: mushroom, tall ovoid, and spherical table lamps and a plug-in wall sconce that is half of the tall ovoid table lamp. Each sits on a 16 cm by 16 cm base with an attached metal Rougier label. One large square and eight smaller squares of dark plastic lead to the lamp.

The mushroom shaped Rougier tube lamp. Image source. From Andrewmodern.

Try though I have, I can’t find a good picture of the ovoid table lamp. The best I can do is an auction listing. I’ll update if and when I can find one. Of course, if you have a picture send it to me! It’s essentially half the sconce below.

The ovoid wall sconce. Image Source. 5 of them are for sale at InAbstracto, Toronto, Canada. C$895 each.

The one I have, and of course my favorite :) is the spherical table lamp. It is 50.8 cm (1 ft 8 in) tall, 38.1 cm (1 ft 3 in) wide and 38.1 cm (1 ft 3 in) deep. It is of impressive scale. There are 85 tubes that make up this version of the lamp. There are two screws that hold one of the side panels in place. These screws and the panel are removed to replace the bulb.

I have a red light bulb in mine which makes it look good during the day but great at night.

Rougier on, day

Rougier off, day

Rougier on, night

Left: Rougier top view, Right: One of the two screws holding the side panel on (center top of picture).

Clearly, there is some admiration of the Rougier lamp going on in this episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Code of Honor.” It’s the third episode of the first season. Screen capture by Jörg Hillebrand. More appearances of the lamp here.

Perhaps the lamp is of such stunning countenance that Tony Montana is having trouble looking at it without averting his gaze? Screen capture from Scarface by Ciarán D.

Image source: 1stdibs.com. Sold.

If you have any information about any Rougier tube lamp, please share it!

Reference

Schneider, B. (2008). Used Props. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from Ex Astris Scientia Web site: http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/reused_props2a.htm

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