Mathmos Lava Lamps: Cultural Icons
How many products have stayed in continuous production for over 50 years? Our lava lamps have stayed relevant for over half a century. Meaning different things, to different people over time they continue to stay relevant to today.
The Origin of our Name: Mathmos
Mathmos takes its name from the cult 1960s French Sci Fi comic strip Barbarella. The Mathmos is the bubble liquid force under the city. Barbarella was also made into a film in 1968 staring Jane Fonda with costumes by Paco Rabanne.
Mathmos in the 1990s
Mathmos lava lamps enjoyed a huge revival in the 1990s manufacturing and selling millions of lamps around the world.
Mathmos by Rankin in 2000
Famous photographer shot a series of Mathmos images for the December issue of Dazed and Confused magazine.
David Bowie, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney...
Ringo Starr was an owner of an Astro, buying one from a shop in the early 60s. Paul McCartney had lava lamps on his set. David Bowie had an Astro Baby in his recording studio.
Mathmos’ 50th Birthday
We celebrated our 50th birthday in style with an exhibition in London’s Festival Hall including the biggest lava lamp in the world. We also make a limited edition lamp with imagery from our 1960s adverts and launched this in a central London design store. See here for press.
Collector’s Editions
We regularly issue limited editions of our classic lava lamps. They usually appreciate in value. Join our mailing list and social media channels to be one of the first to know.
Mathmos Lava Lamps on Film
Mathmos lava lamps have been used numerous times on film; in the 60s it was Dr. Who, The Prisoner. In the 90s The Word and Graham Norton.
