Jielde Knock-off's at PBTeen

Did you like the Jielde industrial lamps as seen in these two recent AT posts, but find them too expensive? If you're willing to sacrifice the impeccable quality of the original, PBTeen is producing knock-off's, priced at only $69.

Don't be put off by the pink-and-purple colors shown in the photo up top. There are grown-up colors available, too, like chrome, white, orange, and navy.

They're somewhat true to the original's form but, as AT reader EgonBlue points out, the big question is whether PBTeen bothered to keep the wireless/modular connectivity of the original Jielde arms which allowed them to be spun, twisted and recombined endlessly without twisting any internal wires or doing any electrical work at all. That was, after all, the whole point of J.L.D.'s design, so that machinists could use them day in and day out without hassle.

(thanks for the tip, EgonBlue!)

Comments (8)

I think we in the design community should encourage each other to support the thought and process invested in original designs rather than the desire to have something at a lower costs just for the look of it.

Vintage designs are endlessly copied and independent designers working today are being knocked off by corporate design entities at the same rate. Obviously the degradation of quality is an issue but more important is the ensuing degradation of design as a practice: a less invested consumer makes for a lazy designer. The trend also feeds our ever-growing need to consume just because we feel like it; if we love the Jielde lamp so much, is it entirely unreasonable to ask that we simply save the money over time to own it? I ask "we" to acknowledge my own complicity in this practice and don't intend this comment to be a diatribe, but rather an open question.

if we love the Jielde lamp so much, is it entirely unreasonable to ask that we simply save the money over time to own it?

Ah, but PB can sell a knock-off for $69 because they know that most of "us" don't love it to the extent of ever paying the original price. We love it about $70-ness.

Is a typical PB shopper even aware that there was an original to this lamp?

I cannot afford the Jielde. But I can afford the $60 lamp. My hope is that when I go to spend $60 on a lamp, which I can afford, that it can be every bit as beautifully designed as a Jielde.

I think beautiful design for the rest of us is great.

"Knockoff's"? Possessive? Knockoff's what?

I have an original Jielde lamp that I love, but wouldn't hesitate to get a PB knockoff. I wouldn't lie about where I got it and that it was a copy, but many of my friends don't know about the original and wouldn't care about it if they did.

I did like them. Let's not be too precious about "originals". Those of us who are aware of Jielde lamps and can afford to buy one, may do so. It's a good-looking design, and there's nothing wrong with it being copied at a lower price point to reach the mass market.

Regina, Thank you for pointing out the most important detail about the JLD LAMP . The bronzed connectors are in fact the focus of the lamp the look was never a issue with Monsieur Domecq .
I have purchased Eames chairs knock offs (mistake) and they are already broken and filling the field. I am writing this email in a Eames chair made by Herman Miller and will most likely pass it on to my to be borne child.
When you purchase a original design made in it's original country you not only get the best but I can assure you that the JLD Lamp is a very green product and it will last forever but you also support a blue coller tradition and good social programing and the idea to buy a knock off made by underpaid labor and in some cases underaged workers will only make one a mediocre consumer.

You can probably find a colorful disposable desk lamp at Walmart for around $10. $69 is overpriced.