PORTRAIT OF THE ICON Edward Craven-Walker and the iconic Lava Lamp

Edward Craven-Walker was no ordinary man. He was a visionary, innovator and war hero whose life was marked by the creation of one of the most famous symbols of pop culture – the Lava Lamp.

Born in England in 1918. , Craven-Walker has spent much of his life researching innovative ways to use light. His creative journeys led him to the moment that changed everything – the creation of the lava lamp in 1963. age.

In World War II , he was a pilot and flew a DeHavilland Mosquito over Germany to take photographs from an unarmed aircraft. He continued to fly even after the war.

Lava lamp or Astro lamp

Lava lamp, or as it was originally called “Astro lamp”, was not just an ordinary lamp. It was a symbol of the psychedelic era, a symbol of freedom, creativity and experimentation. Crven-Walker’s idea of ​​a lamp that creates a hypnotic effect, where hot wax in a thin glass cylinder changes and shapes in response to temperature changes, immediately won hearts and homes around the world.

The lava lamp quickly became a pop culture icon in the 60s and 70s. Its dynamic shapes and flashing colors have become an indispensable part of music festivals, clubs, film sets and artists’ homes. Craven-Walker’s vision not only provided aesthetic pleasure, but also symbolized freedom of expression and openness to new ideas.

The invention that conquered the world

When the lamp is switched on, the electric bulb in the base heats the glass cylinder and the liquid inside. Wax, which has a higher density than water, begins to heat up and melt. The heat causes the wax to rise to the top of the glass cylinder. When it reaches the upper part, where the temperature is lower, the wax starts to cool, loses its liquid form and becomes thicker.

As it becomes denser, it gravitates back down to the bottom of the glass cylinder due to its greater density compared to water. As the wax descends, it is reheated by the electric bulb in the base and the cycle repeats. This continuous cycle of thermal convection movement of the wax creates the characteristic visual effect in the lava lamp – floating, undulating shapes and soft light that changes colors and shapes as the cycle repeats.

The glass cylinder and the liquid inside the lava lamp are selected to provide optimal conditions for this cycle. The temperature of the heat lamp is enough to melt the wax, but not too high to damage the glass or other parts of the lamp. This simple but effective principle allows the lava lamp not only to illuminate the space, but also to provide a soothing and hypnotic visual effect that has made this lamp so popular around the world.