Mantis DCW: 75 Years of a Design Icon

75 Years of Mantis: Bernard Schottlander’s Design Icon Celebrates Three Quarters of a Century of Elegance

A Lamp That Became a Global Design Icon

Few lamps can claim to have crossed more than seven decades without losing any of their modernity. Created in 1951 by Bernard Schottlander, the Mantis collection is one of those rare designs that seem to transcend time.

In 2026, DCW éditions Paris celebrates the 75th anniversary of this iconic lighting collection, still produced with the same attention to detail and respect for its original design. More than simply a lamp, Mantis has become a true light sculpture, instantly recognisable by its remarkable sense of balance, movement and weightlessness.

Bernard Schottlander: The Artist Who Brought Movement to Light

Born in Germany, Bernard Schottlander was an engineer, sculptor and designer.

A great admirer of Alexander Calder and the kinetic grace of his mobiles, Schottlander explored movement and balance throughout his work.

For him, a lamp was not simply designed to illuminate a space. It could move, interact with its surroundings and become a sculptural presence in its own right.

This philosophy led to the creation of Mantis in 1951.

Even today, this approach gives the collection a unique place in the history of 20th-century lighting design.

An Engineering Achievement Turned into Art

The distinctive character of Mantis lies in its ingenious balancing system.

Schottlander developed a clever pivot and counterweight mechanism, combined with slender metal rods that are both flexible and resistant.

From this dialogue between tension and balance emerged a family of luminaires that appear to defy gravity.

The asymmetrical shade can be positioned with remarkable ease while the structure maintains its delicate equilibrium.

Every movement feels natural, fluid and almost alive.

This is why Mantis is often perceived as a kinetic sculpture rather than simply a functional lamp: its elegance comes directly from the precision and simplicity of its construction.

75 Years of Timeless Elegance

While many luminaires follow changing interior trends, Mantis has continued to appeal to architects, interior designers and design enthusiasts for generations.

Its minimalist silhouette allows it to move effortlessly from one era to another without ever appearing outdated.

This timeless quality is precisely what makes the collection so remarkable 75 years after its creation.

It also perfectly embodies the philosophy of DCW éditions:

Well thought out. Well designed. Well made.

One Collection, Four Iconic Silhouettes

Over the years, the Mantis family has developed around several complementary designs.

Floor lamp, wall lights and table lamp all share the same visual language: slender structures, asymmetrical shades, movement and an extraordinary feeling of weightlessness.

Mantis BS1: The Iconic Floor Lamp

The Mantis BS1 floor lamp embodies the original spirit of the collection.

Its exceptionally slender arm rises from a delicate tripod base, while its asymmetrical shade recalls the posture of a praying mantis – the insect that inspired the collection’s evocative name.

Its graceful mobility and sophisticated balance transform the BS1 into far more than a source of light.

Placed in a living room, library or reading area, it becomes a sculptural presence within the interior.

Mantis BS2: A Wall Light in Motion

The Mantis BS2 wall light transforms a wall into a genuine luminous composition.

Its airy steel and aluminium structure creates an elegant graphic line that appears to float within the room.

Its movement allows the light to interact with the space while preserving the characteristic balance of Bernard Schottlander’s design.

The collection also includes the BS2 Mini, offering further possibilities for creating elegant lighting compositions in contemporary interiors.

Mantis BS3: The Sculptural Table Lamp

Elegant and articulated, the Mantis BS3 table lamp remains faithful to Bernard Schottlander’s original design language.

Its visible counterweight mechanism allows the arm to be adjusted to different angles effortlessly while maintaining perfect stability.

Its slim, discreet base takes up very little space on a desk, making the BS3 particularly suitable as a designer desk lamp or reading light.

Functionality becomes almost invisible, leaving room for movement, balance and light.

Mantis BS5: Compact, Precise and Timeless

The Mantis BS5 wall light completes the family with a more compact, organic silhouette.

Its asymmetrical conical shade in black lacquered metal directs the light precisely, while its articulated arm with pivoting joint allows the beam to be adjusted according to the desired use.

It can provide reading light, highlight a work of art or simply create atmospheric illumination.

A discreet and timeless design intended to become part of everyday life.

Why Has Mantis Remained So Iconic for 75 Years?

The enduring success of Mantis is not simply the result of its distinctive appearance.

The collection brings together three essential qualities:

innovative engineering;
timeless elegance;
exceptional attention to design and manufacture.

Mantis does not try to dominate an interior.

Instead, it interacts with the surrounding architecture through its fine lines, movement and light.

It appears almost alive, suspended between sculpture and everyday object.

DCW éditions: Preserving Timeless Lighting Design

Since 2009, DCW éditions has published timeless lighting objects born from a passion for design.

Rooted in the past yet conceived to remain relevant in the future, these objects embody the publisher’s philosophy:

Well thought out. Well designed. Well made.

Mantis perfectly represents this vision: a historic design that continues to feel remarkably contemporary decades after its creation.

75 Years Later: A Legacy Still in Motion

Seventy-five years after its creation, Mantis remains faithful to its original promise: combining the audacity of an artist, the precision of an engineer and the poetry of an object that invites us to dream.

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By celebrating this anniversary, DCW éditions pays tribute not only to Bernard Schottlander, but also to a vision of design in which movement, balance and light become inseparable.

From the sculptural BS1 floor lamp to the BS2 and BS5 wall lights and the elegant BS3 table lamp, the collection continues to demonstrate why great design does not need to follow trends.

75 years later, Mantis is still balancing gracefully between art, engineering and light.

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