Light from the Mánes Exhibition Hall

Product detailed description

The original light from the legendary Mánes Exhibition Hall on the banks of the Vltava River in Prague, designed by Ladislav Vrátník in the 1970s. This functionalist building was constructed in 1930 on the site of the former Šítkovské mills according to a design by Otakar Novotný and served for many years as the headquarters of the Mánes Union of Fine Arts. To this day, it is considered an architectural gem and a symbol of a prestigious exhibition space.

Ladislav Vrátník was a Czech academic architect who devoted himself to interior and furniture design, as well as industrial design. He is the author of the furniture in the Spanish Hall and the interiors of the south wing of Prague Castle, Omnipol Prague and the prelature in Zbraslav. He also made a significant mark on the history of design as a teacher at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, where he taught interior and furniture design and was appointed professor in 1990.

The light consists of a white-lacquered cubic structure made of base metal, into which a cylindrical reflector is set. The visible parts of the reflector and frame are chrome-plated. The reflector is tiltable and the angle of illumination is adjustable. The light is in good original condition. The chrome plating and metal structure have visible patina, are slightly scratched and rusted, as can be seen in the photos.