Joey Manic Sci-Fi Gunmetal Steel & Glass Table Lamp, 1990s

Rare Joey Manic “Alien Eye” Table Lamp, 1990s
By Joseph Boron (aka Joey Manic)
 
A striking fusion of sci-fi nostalgia and industrial design, this rare table lamp by Joey Manic—alias of American designer Joseph Boron—was directly inspired by the 1953 Technicolor cult classic The War of the Worlds. Its unmistakable form echoes the alien ships from the film, reimagined as a menacing yet playful “eye” that seems to gaze back.
 
Crafted in the 1990s, the piece features a gunmetal-textured domed base, a brushed steel gooseneck arm, and a streamlined shade with sleek rivets and perforations. At its core is a hypnotic blue glass diffuser, with a central red glass “pupil” that gives the lamp its alien signature. The eye glows warmly when lit, casting moody reflections through the lens. A unique functional detail is the keyed ignition at the base—turn the original key to activate the lamp, triggering a small red indicator light.
 
Both whimsical and sculptural, this lamp is more than lighting—it's collectible cinematic design. Signed on the shade and base, and complete with its original keys, this is a rare find from the eccentric imagination of Joey Manic, where science fiction meets functional art. A must-have for any collector of offbeat or film-inspired design.