Glamtiques: Praying Mantis

Little is known about Georges-Louis Rispal, founder of venerable French lighting design house Rispal. Born in Paris in 1901, he founded his lighting company in the heart of the city's 11th Arrondissement in 1924. The brand quickly became synonymous with sleek designs and excellent craftsmanship. In the 1950s, Rispal's aesthetic became even more avant-garde with the introduction of the Nouvelles Formes collection. Inspired by Scandinavian design and the works of artist Jean Arp, this revolutionary catalogue gave decorators and architects the opportunity to customize their lighting - combining opalines, lampshades, wooden pieces and legs to create truly unique lamps.

Frequently attributed to a certain Jean Rispal, lamp #14.950 was actually designed by the company's in-house design team in 1950. Part of the Nouvelles Formes collection, it was first shown to the public at the 36th Interior Designers Fair in Paris in 1952. Antique dealers and decorators coined the colorful Praying Mantis name over the years as Rispal products only had reference numbers, not descriptive names. Originally designed with a classic lampshade, Rispal introduced the signature saucer lampshade out of pleated cellulose acetate film in 1955.

After decades of success, Rispal went out of business in 1982. The showroom and workshop were demolished when the space was purchased for real estate development. Tragically, all of the company's plans, production specifications and tools disappeared - along with Rispal's visionary designs and legacy of impeccable craftsmanship.

After years of research, discussions and experiments, lighting designer, Rispal fan and collector Douglas Mont decided to revive this legendary French brand. Without any original plans or tools, this task seemed incredibly daunting. For example, it was necessary to completely rethink and reinvent the familiar cellulose acetate lampshade on the Praying Mantis Lamp. But the results are simply stunning. Slender and intriguing, this insect-like sculpture looks ready to strike at any moment. Made of updated, sustainable materials, this lamp celebrates the essence of Rispal's avant-garde aesthetic like no other.

In addition to relaunching the brand's historic designs, Mont created a timeless collection of new wall, table and floor lamps to honor Rispal's legendary style and heritage - crafting a bright future for this venerable label.