Walking the streets of Florence and Venice in the depths of winter – particularly in the late afternoon – gave window shopping, or simply window-gazing, an eerie feel. Period buildings with shop windows that respected their historic surroundings, often dimly lit, gave the appearance of displays fixed in time. It all added to just how wondrous it is to walk these ancient cities.
In Florence, I glanced at a most delicately constructed three branch light in a decorator’s window. It stood on a simple black square base with no cords to disturb its design and feel. To me, it looked like a miniature version of some elegant streetlight. I remembered that light in the window and could not get it out of my head. I began seeing it in other window displays. Focused on walking and exploring rather than shopping, I let it be. But its sleek brass lines, considered design and scale stuck with me.
A few days later in Venice, I stumbled upon what I would – despite limited experience – describe as the most beautiful boutique department store in the world, within the Fondaco dei Tedeschi. Once overseen and run by Bottega Veneta and then later DFS, it spanned multiple levels and offered gifts, clothing and homewares, all within a 400-year-old arched open-square interior. On a shelf toward the back sat my lamp! I asked a staff member if they had a new one in stock. She checked – no, it was the last. I briefly dithered, but my wife encouraged me to get over my concern about it being a display model, and I decided to buy it. They even found the original box, which fitted the lamp perfectly and set it up well to travel safely as carry-on-luggage.
It now sits in my living room, rechargeable with three light settings, and every time I turn it on it reminds me of the magic of those two cities: the dark walkways I experienced there and the joy of discovery. I call it “my Venice light” but it’s known as the Knokke table lamp, designed by Éric de Dormael and manufactured by DCW Editions. They describe it as ideal for a dinner table setting as the light recreates the soft effects of candles, but to me it’s more monumental than that, more architectural and reminds me of a model yet to be created in full scale. In my home it sits comfortably amongst the old and the new, and it is for me a perfect little example of how great contemporary design can blend effortlessly with period pieces. That is the story of “my Venice light”.
By John Albrecht, Managing Director & Head of Important Collections
Top Image: John’s ‘Venice Light’, the Knokke table lamp
August 2025