Joe Armitage breathes new life into a family legacy with his collection of lighting designs, inspired by a lamp his grandfather, Edward Armitage, created in India over 70 years ago.

The story starts with Edward’s original lamp, crafted during his time in India while working on a hospital project after being recommended by the famed British architect Maxwell Fry. Faced with limited resources, Edward improvised with motorbike spokes and paint tins, creating a piece that now serves as the foundation for Joe's own collection of lights.

Inspired by this family history, Joe Armitage, formerly the design director at Tala, has reissued the midcentury lamp as part of a larger collection of his own design. Carefully reimagined, Joe’s updated version stays true to his grandfather’s original shape and function, while incorporating sustainable and modern materials, such as recycled PET that mimics traditional Japanese washi paper, and environmentally conscious walnut wood.

Though Joe Armitage never met his grandfather, his 94-year-old grandmother, Marthe—renowned for her wallpaper designs—keeps the family legacy alive. The original lamp still shines in her living room, and after a chance encounter with press and buyers, she asked Joe to recreate it, leading to the birth of his lighting career. Today, the Armitage lamp collection includes floor, desk, wall, accent, and suspension lamps, all featuring the signature conical shade of the original.

With each piece, Joe’s collection radiates a warm glow that bridges past and future, reflecting his grandfather's pioneering spirit and Marthe's enduring influence. Through these lights, he honors a family heirloom while adding his own chapter to a seventy-year legacy of craftsmanship that spans generations and continents.