George Carwardine

George Carwardine (1887-1947) was a British engineer best known for his iconic design, the Anglepoise Lamp. Carwardine served an apprenticeship at the Whiting Auto Works in Bath from 1901 to 1905. After completing his apprenticeship, he worked in various workshops before settling at the Horstmann Car Company, where he honed his skills, specialising in vehicle suspension systems. After facing years of financial difficulties, the Horstmann car company finally went bankrupt in 1929. Carwardine took this opportunity to establish a workshop in his garden, where he began to work on a 4-spring lamp – a design that would lead to one of the most iconic and recognisable pieces in British design.

George Carwardine unveiled the 4-spring lamp in 1932. The design was influenced by his background in engineering and vehicle suspension systems, featuring a patented spring mechanism that allowed freedom of movement. The lamp’s perfect balance meant that it could be positioned into a wide range of angles to direct light precisely where required. After seeing an increase in demand, Carwardine licensed the design to spring-maker Herbert Terry & Sons, who went on to register the Anglepoise name. Carwardine continued to work with Herbert Terry & Sons for the rest of his life, where he developed multiple variations of the lamp, which cemented the design into British design history.