Mathmos: Six Decades of Liquid Light and British Innovation
"I think it will always be popular. It is like the cycle of life. It grows, breaks up, falls down and then starts all over again."
— Edward Craven Walker
Few inventions embody the spirited optimism of the 1960s quite like the lava lamp, and few companies hold ownership of that legacy more authentically than Mathmos. As the proud inventors of the lava lamp, Mathmos has manufactured these psychedelic, hypnotic beacons in Britain since the birth of the very first Astro in 1963. Its glow is more than a design statement; it’s a piece of living cultural history.
The Maverick Behind the Movement
To understand Mathmos, one must start with its visionary founder; Edward Craven Walker. Before he became synonymous with swirling wax and cosmic color, Craven Walker served in the RAF during WWII, flying photographic reconnaissance missions in the lightweight, unarmed DeHavilland Mosquito. After the war, his path took an unconventional turn as he embraced naturism and directed pioneering naturist films such as Travelling Light (1959) and Eves on Skies (1963). These films navigated Britain’s strict censorship rules with clever restraint and established Craven Walker as a creative thinker unafraid of cultural boundaries.
It was this blend of eccentricity and curiosity that led him to an unusual egg timer in a Dorset pub—an object using immiscible liquids to measure time. Crude though it was, the idea captivated him. After extensive experimenting with liquids, heat, and glass forms, he created what would become the first Astro Mini. Soon after, he and his wife Christine founded Crestworth, operating from an industrial estate in Poole, Dorset. Through the 60s and 70s, Crestworth’s lamps became emblems of a psychedelic generation. As tastes shifted in the late 70s, demand dipped, but the lava lamp’s story was far from over.
Rebirth in the 90s: Enter Mathmos
In 1992, the brand found new life when Cressida Granger and David Mulley acquired the company and reimagined it as Mathmos, named after the seething lake beneath the city of Sogo in the cult 1963 Barbarella comic. The name was the perfect fusion of sci-fi futurism and 60s nostalgia—exactly the qualities that define the lamps themselves.
Craven Walker remained as consultant until his death in 2000, and under Granger’s leadership Mathmos grew into a modern heritage brand, combining timeless retro appeal with thoughtful innovation. Today, the company continues to manufacture in Poole, staying true to its British roots.
The Mathmos Collection: Icons, Rockets, Candlelight & Innovation
Alongside its storied history, Mathmos continues to expand its range with designs that honor the original lava lamp philosophy while pushing it into new territory. Here’s how each core model reflects that lineage:
1. The ‘Astro’ – The Original, Still Untouchable
The Astro is where it all began—the very first lava lamp designed by Craven Walker himself.
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Made in Britain since 1963, crafted from hand-spun copper anodised metal.
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Powered by Mathmos’ exclusive lava formula, renowned for its brightness, clarity, and long-lasting flow.
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A permanent fixture in design museums and editorial features—a true pop design classic.
More than six decades later, the Astro remains the purest distillation of the Mathmos aesthetic: slow, meditative, and utterly mesmerizing.
2. The ‘Telstar’ – The Rocket Age Reignited
Inspired by 1960s space fever, the Telstar rocket lamp brings mid-century futurism to life.
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Precision-cast metal legs finished in polished chrome, with one leg subtly embossed with the Mathmos logo.
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In continuous production since the early 1990s and one of Mathmos’ top-selling lamps.
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Features the same unmatched Mathmos lava formula, hand-filled in Poole.
Impossibly cool and unapologetically retro, the Telstar feels like it’s ready for lift-off.
3. The ‘Neo’ – Lava Lamp Magic, Made Child-Safe
The Neo is Mathmos’ first lamp designed specifically to be safe for both children and adults.
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Built with an enclosed, sturdy form and a low-voltage bulb that directs heat where it belongs—toward the lava, not the casing.
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Enjoys the benefits of 50+ years of Mathmos expertise, resulting in a smoother, clearer, longer-lasting flow.
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A modern silhouette that channels the calm, mesmerising movement of the original 60s designs.
Neo brings the enchantment of a lava lamp into family spaces with complete peace of mind.
4. The ‘Fireflow’ – Candle-Powered, Portable, and Playful
A charming twist on the classic lava lamp, the Fireflow is powered entirely by standard tea lights.
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Completely wireless when cool, making it perfect for the home, garden, or any ambient nook.
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Precision-cast metal construction, high safety standards, and the same high-quality Mathmos formula.
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Beautifully packaged in gift-ready boxes direct from the Poole factory.
Fireflow reimagines the lava lamp as a portable ritual—soft, flickering, and wonderfully atmospheric.
5. The ‘Evo’ – The Full-Size Candle Lava Lamp
For those who want the scale and presence of a classic lamp without cords, the Evo is the answer.
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A full-size candle-powered lava lamp, made of clear glass and chromed cast metal.
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Comes with six Mathmos tealights and can be placed anywhere indoors or out.
Evo blends elegant industrial design with the primal beauty of candlelight—an entirely different way to experience lava flow.
A British Icon That Still Glows Brightly
More than 60 years after the first Astro lamp flickered to life, Mathmos continues to manufacture every bottle and piece of lava in Poole, Dorset; the same town where Craven Walker’s idea first took shape. That continuity, combined with a relentless commitment to quality and originality, is why Mathmos lamps remain unmatched: clearer, brighter, longer-lasting, and unmistakably authentic.
Just as Craven Walker predicted, the lava lamp moves in cycles; growing, breaking, reforming, beginning again. Mathmos has simply ensured that the cycle never stops glowing.
Shop our full range of Mathmos Lava Lamps right here.