Known for his sleek, award-winning Space Age lighting, Rolf Krüger was an influential and important contributor to the advancement of German mid-century modern furniture design during the 1960s and 1970s.
Born in Hamburg in 1939, Krüger grew up in the maritime city of Husum, located near the German-Danish border. In 1959, he studied free and applied arts at the Heinrich Zernack School in Berlin before attending the Meisterschule für das Kunsthandwerk (now the Universität der Künste Berlin) from 1960 to 1964. There, he studied product design, painting, photography and commercial graphics and graduated with a diploma in design.
From 1964 to 1982, Krüger worked for several German lighting and furniture design firms, creating metal, glass and concrete products. For manufacturer Staff Leuchten, he designed bubble glass pendants (created with Japanese lighting designer Motoko Ishii), tube decorative wall lamps and the iconic Cross Oyster flush mount ceiling light, which was displayed in the exhibition stand of Mercedes-Benz at the 1970 Geneva International Motor Show. In 1968, Krüger collaborated with German industrial designer Dieter Witte to create a large wall panel version of the Cross Oyster light for Staff Leuchten.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Krüger worked with lighting manufacturer Heinz Neuhaus Leuchten to create several popular pieces like his cubic wall lights and brass tubular desk lamps. For furniture maker Paul Neuhaus Leuchten, Krüger designed his elegant, modernist double wall sconces.
Throughout his design career, Krüger has received more than 30 awards, including multiple iF Design awards. His lighting pieces are in the collections of the Landesmuseen Schleswig-Holstein, the Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf, the Design Museum in Munich and the Kunstgewerbemuseum of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Rolf Krüger lighting.
Mid-Century Modern Ceiling or Wall Light, Germany 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Almelo, NL
Round Ceiling or wall light Germany 1960s. This round flush mount ceiling or wall light, made of heavy, textured clear iced glass, was crafted in Germany in the 1960s. This midcentury vintage lamp...
Metal
1 of 8 Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights Designed by Kaiser Leuchten in the 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten, Kinkeldey
Located in Almelo, NL
Mid-Century Modern design wall lights designed by Kaiser Leuchten in the 1960s. Kaiser Leuchten Germany designed this modernist wall lights in the 1960s. Exquisite and delicate wa...
Chrome
Midcentury Large Art Glass Sconces, Austria, 1950s
By J.T. Kalmar
Located in Almelo, NL
Midcentury Large Art Glass Sconces, Austria, 1950s These stunning art glass sconces from Austria, crafted in the 1950s and inspired by the style of Kalmar, showcase exquisite design...
Metal
Large Size Mid-Century Chrome Wall Lights by Staff Leuchten, Germany, 1970s
By Staff Leuchten, Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Almelo, NL
Large size midcentury chrome wall lights produced by Staff Leuchten, Germany, 1970s. The pleasant light it spreads is very atmospheric, these wall scones or fixtures will contribute ...
Brass
Large set Staff Leuchten Round Opaline Ceiling or Wall Lights, Germany 1970s.
By Staff Leuchten
Located in Almelo, NL
Large set Staff Leuchten Round Opaline Ceiling or Wall Lights, Germany 1970s. Staff Leuchten made these round ceiling or wall lights in Germany during the 1970s. They are flush-moun...
Opaline Glass, Polyester
1968 “Cross Oyster” Flush-Mount Lights by Rolf Krüger for Staff Leuchten
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Almelo, NL
1968 “Cross Oyster” Flush-Mount Lights by Rolf Krüger for Staff Leuchten — 2 Available, Priced Per Light Rare 1968 “Cross Oyster” flush-mounted light panels by Rolf Krüger for Staff...
Metal, Copper
Mid-Century German Wall or Ceiling Lamp from BUR, Bünte & Remmler, 1960s
By Bünte und Remmler
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare mid century ceiling or wall lamp by bur in minimalist design language. A minimalist design. A finely executed, dark gray painted metal shell with a glass diffuser in the middle...
Metal
Original 1970s Staff Tube Ceiling Wall Lights Designed by Rolf Krüger, Germany
By Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Set of five tube table lights for ceiling or wall fixation Design: Rolf Krüger Producer: Staff, Germany Origin: ...
Metal
Dieter Witte -Staff Leuchten - Germany 1960
By Dieter Witte, Rolf Krüger, Staff Leuchten
Located in The Hague, NL
Beautiful, sculptural wall lights by designer Dieter Witte. Staff Leuchten, Germany, was the manufacturer of these smooth designed lamps. The colors are warm deep brown and white at ...
Metal
Set of 2 Cubic Wall Lights Dieter Witte, Rolf Krüger for STAFF Leuchten, 1970s
By Staff Leuchten, Dieter Witte, Rolf Krüger
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Set of two cubic wall lights Producer: Staff Leuchten, Germany Age: 1970s Set of 2 original, 1970s German modernist wall Lights made of solid metal with an indirec...
Metal
Set of 8 Mid-Century German Space Age Model 710282 Wall or Ceiling Lamps, 1970s
By Staff Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Space Age Model 710282 Wall or Ceiling Lamps from Staff Leuchten, 1970s, Set of 8 Space Age ceiling or wall spotlight from the well-known manufacturer Staff. A s...
Metal
Set of 9 Ceiling or Wall Lamps by Rolf Krüger for Staff, 1960s
By Staff Leuchten, Rolf Krüger
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
The set includes 5x the 20cm high lamp and 4x the 12cm. Design from Rolf Krüger 1966, winner of the German IF Award in 1967! Rod luminaires are particularly suitable for creati...
Metal
