Designed and made by Michael Dix, Degenerate V is a sculptural concrete table lamp with a rust-marked surface and a handcrafted stainless steel mesh shade. Its irregular form and surface texture give it a character of its own within the Degenerate series.
The Degenerate series
The Degenerate table lamps draw on Michael’s photographic studies of the streetscape: broken street furniture, graffiti tags, rust, potholes and surfaces altered by weather and use. Cast concrete Brutalist architecture and sculpture are also strong influences.
The series explores concrete’s capacity to be both precisely formed and unpredictable, with surfaces ranging from smooth and polished to rough, distorted and deeply textured.
Design and making
Michael first turned an original wooden form, then used it to create a silicone mould from which each concrete lamp base was individually cast.
Repeated casting gradually deteriorates the mould. Earlier pieces retain a more clearly defined form, while later casts become increasingly irregular as its surface breaks down. Each lamp records a different stage in that process, sharing the same origin while developing its own character.
Rough textures sit alongside polished areas, recalling the way concrete can become smooth through years of contact and use. Lamp V has a rust-marked finish that complements the irregularities of the cast surface.
Shade
The shade is handcrafted in Scotland from stainless steel mesh, contrasting with the weight and irregular surface of the concrete base.
Dimensions and electrical details
Maximum diameter: 250 mm
Height: 650 mm
Bayonet lamp holder
Switch on black cable
PAT tested in 2019
Designed and made by Michael Dix, Degenerate V is a sculptural concrete table lamp with a rust-marked surface and a handcrafted stainless steel mesh shade. Its irregular form and surface texture give it a character of its own within the Degenerate series.
The Degenerate series
The Degenerate table lamps draw on Michael’s photographic studies of the streetscape: broken street furniture, graffiti tags, rust, potholes and surfaces altered by weather and use. Cast concrete Brutalist architecture and sculpture are also strong influences.
The series explores concrete’s capacity to be both precisely formed and unpredictable, with surfaces ranging from smooth and polished to rough, distorted and deeply textured.
Design and making
Michael first turned an original wooden form, then used it to create a silicone mould from which each concrete lamp base was individually cast.
Repeated casting gradually deteriorates the mould. Earlier pieces retain a more clearly defined form, while later casts become increasingly irregular as its surface breaks down. Each lamp records a different stage in that process, sharing the same origin while developing its own character.
Rough textures sit alongside polished areas, recalling the way concrete can become smooth through years of contact and use. Lamp V has a rust-marked finish that complements the irregularities of the cast surface.
Shade
The shade is handcrafted in Scotland from stainless steel mesh, contrasting with the weight and irregular surface of the concrete base.
Dimensions and electrical details
Maximum diameter: 250 mm
Height: 650 mm
Bayonet lamp holder
Switch on black cable
PAT tested in 2019
