Helena Suspension Lamp – Cassina

Designed by
Charles Eames

A singular creation in blown glass, it is capped by an aluminium hemisphere with tiny star cut-outs in it.

When the lamp is lit, the pattern is illuminated, creating a harmonious interplay of light and shadow that emphasises its celestial appearance.

Intended to illuminate the interior of St. Mary’s Church in Helena, Arkansas, the Helena lamp was designed by Charles Eames in 1934 when he was practicing architecture in St. Louis, Missouri.

The lamp is put into production for the first time by Cassina in collaboration with the Eames Office, the design studio founded by Charles and Ray in 1941. Available in pendant and wall versions, Helena is a blown-glass sphere, wrapped in an aluminium hemisphere that can be rotated to change the direction of the light, giving the lamp the appearance of a moon.

A pattern of small, laser-cut stars on the dome characterises Helena, creating a harmonious interplay of light and shadow that emphasises its celestial resemblance.