

SONNEMAN—A Way of Light, the eponymous lighting company founded by Robert Sonneman is known for its innovative and timeless collections. Robert designs with an eye toward the future, always keeping in mind what’s next in what he calls “the odyssey of design.” That is, until he recently revisited one of his modern classics: the Floating Glass Pendant.
Thanks to technological advancements with LEDs since the pendant debuted in 1984 at George Kovacs, Sonneman went back to the drawing board. He redesigned the pendant to allow for LED technology to replace the outdated Quartz Halogen bulb that previously remained dominant in lighting design. New LED technology led to a time of research and re-discovery for the luminary of lighting design.
“When LED was introduced, I knew I didn’t really understand it. So I spent three years in a process of study, to learn the technology and the science, and to try to understand it so that I could use it,” says Robert.
The reimagination of The Floating Glass Pendant, now simply called ‘Float,’ with electronic illumination offers an overall more dramatic effect. The light is transmitted through the clear glass disk and emitted through the edges, creating a 360-degree ring of light. The pendant is also available with a white etched glass disk that radiates light from the entire glass surface, creating a soft glow.