Finnish Floor Lamps

Finnish designer, Carin Lisa Johansson-Pape, was among the most significant Finnish lighting designers in the second half of the 1900s. She designed furniture for Stockmann from 1937...

The “Crane” is evidence why Tapio Wirkkala can be described as one of the icons of Finnish design and a symbol of the international success of post-war Finnish design. He was a versatile designer and artist who could shift fluently between different materials and crossed established professional boundaries. Wirkkala’s far-reaching career spanned multiple fields, from furniture design to sculpture and other art objects, and this can be clearly traced in this floor lamp. It functions as an art object just as much as a utilitarian lamp. With its slender shape and a brass and black lacquered body, this lamp is a great modernist piece that stands out in any space. The ingenious structure allows the height to be adjustable, and the design customizable. The main design elements are placed around the main functional parts, namely the shade, the adjusting rod, and the base. The sculptural brass rods cross each other similarly to a crane, and inspired the nickname of this model. The black lacquered conical shade and base, as well as the spherical counterweight stand out against the bright brass and add a modern edge to the design. The shade is lacquered white inside, creating a pleasant effect when the lamp is lit. Idman’s label engraved on the brass handle. Idman produced the models of some of the most renowned Finnish lighting designers of the time, including Tapio Wirkkala, Mauri Almari and Maria Lindeman. Unlike other aesthetic movements, Mid-Century Modern design was streamlined, while highlighting the materials used. The vibe of this “Crane” floor lamp is fresh, retro-tinged, and completely alluring with its dedication to quality and practicality wrapped up in beautiful design that will never go out of style. Condition: In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The brass has a beautiful patina. Dimensions: 26.37 in W x 7.08 in D x 51.39 in H (height is adjustable) 67 cm W x 18 cm D x 128 cm H (height is adjustable) Literature: Tuula Sakalari, Katri Lehtova, Werner Söderström, “Suomalaisia Tuolej”, Osakeyhtio, Helsinki, 2012, pp. 96 & 97 About the designer: Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) can be described as one of the icons of Finnish design and a symbol of the international success of post-war Finnish design. He was a versatile designer and artist who could shift fluently between different materials and crossed established professional boundaries: he worked on everything from refrigerators to banknotes and from furniture to striking jewels. The most important materials for Wirkkala were wood and glass – he never ceased to explore the possibilities they offer. Tapio Wirkkala studied sculpture at the Helsinki Central School of Industrial Design from 1933 until 1936, but he was also a self-studied artist in many areas, including glass design. His success as a glass artist began in 1946 when he designed one of his most famous works, the Kantarelli vase, for Iittala. Wirkkala gained worldwide success in 1951 at the Milan Triennial, where he received three Grand Prix awards: for the exhibition architecture, glass design and wooden sculptures. Many of his glass works for Iittala were also awarded later in the 1950s at the Milan Triennial. In the years 1951-1954, Wirkkala worked as the artistic director of Helsinki Central School of Industrial Design. In 1955, he received a Pro Finlandia medal and in 1972 the Academy of Finland's honorary title of academician. The first mass-production glassware range designed by Wirkkala was the Tapio series launched in 1954. The popular Ultima Thule glassware range, created in 1968, was based on the so-called ice glass technique, and the designer himself was involved in developing it at the Iittala glass factory. Wirkkala also received important commissions from abroad: in the mid-1960s he started to design glass objects for Venini Glassworks in Italy, where he created the Bolle bottles for the Venice Biennale collection in 1966. One of Wirkkala’s most significant commissions abroad was the work at the Rosenthal porcelain factory in Germany: he worked as a freelance designer for Rosenthal for almost 30 years, and the most influential result was the Paper Bag vase (1977), still today one of Rosenthal’s best-selling products. Tapio Wirkkala was also a furniture designer and a sculptor. He started his career as a sculptor in the 1930s, but abandoned the traditional sculpture in the post-war years. The result was a series of unique plywood sculptures which combined form and movement in the vibrant, densely lineated surface of plywood. Wirkkala’s sculptures represented exceptional abstractionism and gave Finnish sculpture...

Very rare and early floor lamp model A 808 designed by Alvar Aalto. Produced by Valaistustyö in Finland. Designed for National Pensions Institute in Helsinki.

Floor lamp model A809 designed by Alvar Aalto for Valaistustyö, Finland. 1959. Lacquered steel, brass and leather. Dimensions: H: 170 cm/ 5' 7 1/4'' W: 60 cm/ 2' D: 40 cm/ 15 3/4''...

By the 1950s, Finland had established itself as a force for innovation in design. The best qualities of Finnish light fixtures are their atmospheric light and disciplined, functional...

Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) was a multitalented design genius, widely considered a leading figure of modern Finnish industrial art. This lamp model is one of the cornerstones of Tapio Wirkkala´s repertoire; this groundbreaking piece is one of the original adjustable lamps with angular opal light...

Very rare pair of floor lamps attributed to Paavo Tynell. Produced in Finland.

Cast iron, brass, lacquered metal and leather. Rare model. Alvar Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, lighting, and glassware,...

Rare and early floor lamp “Maija the bee” / Maija Mehiläinen designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara. Produced by Hienoteräs in Finland.

Rare and early floor lamp “Maija the bee” / Maija Mehiläinen designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara. Produced by Hienoteras in Finland.

Rare and early floor lamp “Maija the bee” / Maija Mehiläinen designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara. Produced by Hienoteräs in Finland.

Early floor lamp, model A808, designed by Alvar Aalto and manufactured by Valaistustyö, Finland 1950s. The layered brass shade with internal white enamelled metal diffuser and pul...

Stockmann Orno, established in 1921 in Helsinki, Finland, was a major manufacturer, renowned for its high-quality lighting fixtures. The company used glass, metals, precious woods to...

This stunning floor lamp by Mauri Almari features a sleek brass stem with three billowing arms, each holding a yellow glass shade that casts a warm glow. The polished brass and opal ...

Floor lamp “K10-2″designed by Maria Lindeman, Finland. 1950s. Polished brass and black lacquered metal. Dimensions: H: 140 cm / 4' 7" D: 22 cm / 8.7"

Such an unusual example of Tapio Wirkkala's coveted lighting. This model has an adjustable light source which is controlled by a sliding bar on the l...

Finnish designer Carin Lisa Johansson-Pape, was a pioneering figure of the mid-20th century Finnish design landscape. She designed furniture for Stockmann from 1937 and from 1942, sh...

Viljo Hirvonen (1916-1975) Floor Lamp model H801, in cast iron, leather, brass and lacquered metal, designed circa 1960 and manufactured by Valaistustyö...

Lisa Johansson-Pape Pair of floor lamps Manufactured by Orno Finland, 1947 Painted steel, brass and acrylic shade From the archives of Side Gallery, Barcelona Measurements 57.45 cm diameter x 146 cm height 22.61 in diameter x 57.48 in height Literature Design Musuem, Lisa Johansson-Pape, Helsinki, 1986; Ornamo, Helsinki, 1962 Bio Finnish designer Lisa Johansson-Pape enjoyed a long and varied career in lighting, furniture, textile, and ceramic design. She was one of Finland’s leading lighting designers in the 20th century and was instrumental in promoting Finnish design internationally. Born in 1907, Lisa Johansson-Pape studied at the Industrial Art Institute in Helsinki University of Art & Design (Now Aalto University of Art & Design), graduating in 1928. She worked as a furniture designer for Kylmäkoski and Stockmann and created carpets for the Friends of Finnish Handicraft, before turning her attention to lighting design. She collaborating with the Stockmann-owned lighting factory Orno from 1942, famously remarking, “it was quite by accident that I became a design light artist. By education, I am a furniture designer, but I had to make lamps during the war.” Notable designs include the Lisa (1947), Sipuli (1954), and Laura (1957) pendant lamps. The Sipuli, often referred to by the English translation Onion, resembles the form of the vegetable for which it was named. The angular design in opaline glass was awarded a gold medal at the Triennale di Milano in 1954, which was just one of several prizes Johansson-Pape received in her career; she was also awarded a silver medal at the 1951 Triennale...