Lab Liberated - Pair of Prior Desk Lamps, England, c. 1960s

A matching pair of compact laboratory lamps by W.R. Prior & Co., England, originally made for use alongside scientific and optical equipment.

Each lamp has a circular black ring base, slender chrome upright and an adjustable metal shade in a textured warm grey-beige finish. The shade can be moved up and down the vertical stem and tilted to direct the light — simple, practical engineering intended for a working environment.

Prior specialised in microscopes and scientific instruments, including dedicated microscope illumination. Today, the clean proportions and exposed mechanics make these just as convincing as small desk or bedside lamps.

Both bases retain the Prior maker’s mark.