Relax, it's just a lamp Relax, it's just a lamp

How can we apply our fascination for traditional mechanics and craft tools into state-of-the art design? This quest was the starting point for the products of lighting label Tonone, known for the use of characteristic construction tools as a visual and a functional basis for innovative product design.

This vision came to life through Tonone’s expanding collection: the Bolt series, followed by the hand-blown glass lamps Atlas and Ella, the sturdy Mr. Tubes, and the LED series Beads. In 2022, Tonone introduced the elegant Bella and the portable ONE, followed by the linear LED lamp Bridge in early 2024. In celebration of Tonone’s 10th anniversary, the Bolt10 was introduced, an evolution of the original Bolt that combines iconic design elements with updated technology and refined functionality.

Today, the design team remains dedicated to translating traditional tools and mechanics into contemporary lighting design. The handwriting of founder Anton de Groof and his team is still bold and functional, yet the latest designs show a cleaner and more intelligent approach. Even when the mechanics are hidden, Tonone’s signature is always present.

The story of Tonone started long before the brand itself. Designer Anton de Groof grew up in Nuenen, the Netherlands, surrounded by tools, models and mechanical parts. A natural playground for his fascination with how things are built.

In the 1990s, he founded a furniture brand and designed interiors, where a lamp he created planted the seed for something bigger. A key element of that design was the wingnut. A small but distinctive mechanical part that allowed the lamp to be adjusted and later became Tonone’s visual and functional signature. 

 In 2013 the first Bolt lamp brought this idea to life, marking the start of Tonone’s clear design philosophy: honest, smart and rooted in mechanics.

Anton de Groof, founder and designer of Tonone, is known for his fascination with mechanics, construction and technical detail. His designs balance clarity and function, combining industrial elements with a refined aesthetic. 

In addition to his work for Tonone, De Groof designed the Thierry le Swinger lamp for Fatboy and the Air 65 chair for Dutch furniture brand Qliv. His work reflects a distinctly Dutch design language that is functional, modern and thoughtfully made, influenced by Bauhaus and the Bossche School. 

 Every design carries his signature approach: honest materials, smart connections and a belief in the beauty of how things work..