French designer Tim Defleur has created a table lamp from a single sheet of folded steel that forms the base and shade.

Defleur designed the PLI & CO lamp to demonstrate that just one material is required to make a product that is strong, elegant and affordable.

"I found a way to make something stable, the easiest and cheapest way as possible but still with a strong personality," Defleur told Dezeen. "In these times of economic crisis, I think it's relevant."

The lamp's form features a curving back section that creates a stable base and transitions into a hood-like shade, which leans forward to direct light from the bulb onto the table surface.

The steel sheet is folded sharply where the base meets the shade and a hole in the joint on one side accommodates the socket for a standard E14 light bulb.

Defleur explained that the idea was developed during a process of experimentation with paper forms and added that paper models were used to refine the shape.

"I spend a lot of my time randomly experimenting with materials and processes like foldings and twisting," said the designer. "The idea for this lamp came from these kind of experimentation sessions."

Steel was chosen over materials such as plastic as it offered the necessary strength and weight. The material is first bent on a mould to create the sharp fold and then formed over another mould to produce the curving shapes.

The socket and a couple of quick welds where the base meets the shade hold the steel together.

Each lamp is painted a single colour to emphasise the minimal use of materials and is embellished by a contrasting colourful electrical cord.