Mathmos X Studio Job

Mathmos Limited Edition Lava Lamps

In 2023 Mathmos marked its 60th birthday by handpicking five designers from fashion, design, and music to craft bespoke range of limited edition Astro lava lamps. The Astro lava lamp was invented in 1963 and has remained in continuous British production since. The Mathmos Astro lava lamp is part of several museum collections and is widely recognised as a pop design classic.

Mathmos X Studio Job 

Our first collaboration was with Dutch designer Studio Job, founded by Job Smeets who introduced his bold and colourful approach to design a maximalist and bold version of Mathmos’ classic Astro lava lamp. Studio Job is an innovative art and design studio, founded in 1998 by Art Director and Designer Job Smeets. Based in the Netherlands and Milan, Studio Job merges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics to produce unique and captivating maximalist pieces. Their ethos is ‘to create once-in-a-lifetime art and design objects’ and the Studio job limited edition Astro was no exception to this signature maximalist approach.

”I love this collaboration; true to their style, Studio Job has brought their eccentric, maximalist style to our classic Astro lava lamp: both morbid and humorous, it looks brilliant both on and off.”  – Cressida Granger, Mathmos.

Perished Astro lava lamp by Studio Job for Mathmos.

One of the standout features of the Mathmos X Studio Job lava lamp is the use of Studio Job’s signature ‘Perished’ pattern, which has been a hallmark of Studio Job’s craftsmanship since 2005, incorporating intricate animal skeletons etched into the lava lamp and an inscription of “Perished 2023 | Studio Job for Mathmos” atop of the cap.

Each Mathmos Astro lava lamp is hand made in Britain since 1963; the bases are spun by British craftsmen and anodised with a polished gold finish. The collaboration bottles were individually hand-sprayed with a graduated gold finish on the glass which obscures the lava completely when the lamp is turned off. The lava lamp bottle was hand filled with a custom combination of clear liquid and red lava and a red fabric lead completes the look.

The stunning custom Studio Job box with the perished pattern is a piece of art in its own right and is exclusive to this limited run of 600.

“The Lava lamp is connected to my youth in the 70s; for me, it’s such an iconic design. The lamp is like a little theatre in itself, so I tried to make it as dramatic as possible within the constraints of this shape, like a dance macabre. Normally, you see a retro vintage feel, now, with the skeletons and red lava it becomes gothic and classical.” – Job Smeets

STUDIO JOB WORK

Studio Job’s diverse portfolio spans various projects, ranging from bronze artwork in prestigious museums to bespoke sculptures and collaborations with global brands. With over two decades of experience, Studio Job continues to innovate in the realms of art and design, captivating audiences worldwide with their bold creations. From bronze pieces exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum in New York to the Dutch King’s national stamp, which saw a production of forty million pieces in the Netherlands, and from unique life-size bronze sculptures on Miami Beach to the one-of-a-kind Wunderkammer curiosity cabinet crafted for Swarovski in Innsbruck, Austria, Studio Job’s projects are recognized internationally. The Financial Times has hailed Studio Job as one of the most influential studios in the field.

Studio Job has showcased pieces in over 400 exhibitions and solo shows spanning numerous Museums over the years including London’s Design Museum, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Reunion des Musees Nationaux in Paris, State Museum of Architecture in Moscow, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and many more.

Mathmos collaboration lava lamps

Mathmos is proudly British and European, so collaborators from the UK and continental Europe were chosen. Each collaboration dropped weekly, priced at £130 / 150€  and was strictly limited to 600 pieces, each piece uniquely numbered. The limited edition Astros were exclusively available from Mathmos International websites.

60th Anniversary Competitions

The Studio Job collaboration Astro was popular with collectors across the UK and Europe with all 600 selling out quickly. Mathmos kept back a small number for archive and to gift as competition prizes. Mathmos mailing list subscribers were entered into an exclusive draw for one lucky person to win number 60 of this sold out edition, whilst Studio Job hosted an exclusive Instagram giveaway for followers to win number 100.

”I love this collaboration; true to their style, Studio Job has brought their eccentric, maximalist style to our classic Astro lava lamp: both morbid and humorous, it looks brilliant both on and off.”  – Cressida Granger, Mathmos.

Press

Studio Job’s collaborative Astro lava lamp garnered press attention during its launch, earning praise for its eccentric and distinctive style. The lamp was featured in publications such as Elle Decoration and Architectural Digest Magazine, as well as various newspapers across Europe.