The Scandinavian vintage lamps are the answer to your need to bring a touch of Nordic elegance into your home.
In the top 3 good reasons why you should choose these pieces of history for lighting your interior are for sure:
- modern and timeless design that makes them suitable for a wide variety of combinations: they look good in minimal or eclectic homes, with contemporary or vintage furnishings;
- the quality of materials and manufacturing process, which make Scandinavian vintage lamps a good investment: they are made to last;
- the sophisticated and never mundane aesthetics that turn them into “eye-catching” objects, which add character to the space.
Immerse yourself in fragments of Scandinavian design history as you discover the most iconic lamps.
The masters of Scandinavian lighting
Scandinavian design history boasts of true masters of the lighting industry.
Poul Henningsen, for example, is also famous for his lamp PH5, which revolutionized the concept of diffused lighting.
Arne Jacobsen is another name to remember, with his AJ lamps that have become true design icons.
Verner Panton is best known for his lamps Flowerpot with their rounded shapes and bright colors, while Alvar Aalto contributed to the world of lighting with his innovative and functional designs.
These are just a few names from the roster of designers who have given us immortal lamps that are still in production and super popular today.
Bumling Lamp
Anders Pehrson is the genius behind the Bumling lamp, an icon of Scandinavian design. Created in the 1960s, this lamp features a sinuous silhouette and bold volume.
Simplicity and functionality make it a popular choice for those seeking a distinctive piece for their home.
The diffuse light it gives off makes it perfect for topping a dining table or kitchen island.
Le Bumling pendant lamps largest, are perfect for serving as a “hat” for a round or square table. In the case of oval or rectangular tables and kitchen islands, smaller models of Bumling lamps in pairs.
Although the most famous version is, precisely, the pendant version, Bumling lamps also exist in the variant floor lamps.
Fun fact: Bumling means boulder. It is said that a friend of Pehrson’s, called the first prototype that; the rest is history!
The Bumling vintage lamps all bear the signature of the brand Ateljé Lyktan.
Seed Funnel Lamps by Bonderup & Thorsten
Bonderup & Thorsten’s funnel lamps are an example of timeless design: will it be thanks to that ultra-modern look, given by the two semicircles joined to form a kind of cone?
Conceived by Swedish designers Mats Bonderup e Stig Thorsten in 1968, the Semi Pendant Light, already in the planning stage attracted attention for its unique design.
In fact, the project won first prize in the competition at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture.
From there on, the success of the ceiling lamp Semi continued on an upward trajectory until, in the 1980s, it became the best-selling Danish design piece in the world.
Semi Pendant gives off a conical light, ideal for illuminating a table or work surface.
Verona pendant lamp by Svend Middelboe
The Verona pendant lamp, designed by Svend Middelboe in the 1960s, is an example of Danish design excellence.
Produced by Fog & Mørup, is made of enameled aluminum and consists of five artfully arranged rings so that light expands both above and below the light fixture.
This feature makes the Verona pendant lamp a perfect light point for general lighting. In any room it will be able to provide most of the necessary artificial light.
Verona vintage lamps were assembled by hand, following artisanal metalworking methods.
The most popular vintage models are in the versions gold or white.
PH5 Lamp by Poul Henningsen
The PH5 lamp, created in 1958 by Poul Henningsen, owes its name to the diameter of its main ring: 50 cm ..
Henningsen considered lighting to be the key element of home furnishings, and his work only substantiated this thesis.
The collaboration with the brand Louis Poulsen resulted in the PH collection, winner of the gold medal at theExposition des Art Décoratifs in Paris. in 1925. Well, yes, the PH5 boasts of many “sisters” of various sizes, colors and types, not just hanging.
La PH5 is the result of research into reflected and diffused light: thanks to the special overlapping of discs and rings, it is able to produce light that can evenly illuminate a good portion of space.
Therefore, a vintage PH5 lamp is both perfect for lighting dining tables and kitchen islands, and also efficient as a main light point, for example in a hallway, entryway, studio, or other rooms.
The PH5 model has become a symbol of Scandinavian design, appreciated in both domestic and professional settings for its timeless aesthetics.
AJ by Harne Jacobsen
The lamps designed by Arne Jacobsen all have a proper name that begins with AJ.
Among the most famous are the AJ Pendant, a pendant lamp in the shape of a hemisphere, and the AJ lamps with a visor.
AJs with visors were designed in the 1960 by the famous designer for the Louis Poulsen brand, on the occasion of the design of the Royal SAS Hotel in Copenhagen (a hotel that blossomed so many iconic Scandinavian design objects).
AJ visor lamps are designed both as wall sconces and as floor and table lamps. The resulting flow of light is conical.
A peculiarity of the visor model is that the inside of the shade is always white, even when the lamp is colored. This choice allows the light to diffuse more easily.
Also the AJ semicircular pendant lamps were designed for the same hotel, in fact they have also gone down in history under the name AJ Royal.
The simple, geometric design makes them timeless. The resulting light is absolutely uniform.
Today they are produced only in white, but vintage AJ Royal lamp pieces can also be found in copper, black, and sepia-colored versions.
The lamps of Anna Ahrens
The pendant lamp designed by Anna Ahrens for Ateljé Lyktan in 1970 features organic forms and sustainable materials. It perfectly embodies some of the guidelines of Nordic design: quality and functionality, with a focus on natural materials.
It consists of two bamboo rings held together by a canvas shade.
This vintage pendant lamp light and soft lines is perfect for creating a cozy atmosphere.
To recognize an original Scandinavian lamp, it is important to know its provenance. Where does it come from? Where was it made? Scandinavian workmanship and high-quality materials make a vintage lamp an authentic Nordic piece.
Another way to tell if a Scandinavian lamp is original is to recall some of the most famous brands. You may come across a fine vintage lamp some day. Some feature labels or trademarks of the brands that distributed them in the past.
If you don’t want to have any doubts about the authenticity of a vintage Scandinavian lamp you just need to look in the right place, for example in our category “Lighting” which contains only vintage lamps from Scandinavia.
Speaking of iconic Scandinavian brands here is a short selection to keep in mind.
How to recognize an original Scandinavian lamp? The most famous brands
Louis Poulsen
If you love Scandinavian design, the high-sounding name Louis Poulsen is sure to sound familiar.
In Louis Poulsen’s lamps, form and function come together in harmony.
Founded by Ludvig R. Poulsen in 1892, the company became famous for its innovative and high-quality lamps, still representative of Scandinavian design.
Over the years, Louis Poulsen has seen transformations and successes. It enshrined its headquarters in Holmen, Copenhagen and changed its name-with the arrival of Sophus Kaastrup-Olsen in 1919-to become Louis Poulsen & Co.
Over the following decades, Louis Poulsen continued to prosper and still remains one of the leading lighting companies today.
Famous for iconic lamps, (such as the Poul Henningsen’s PH series and Arne Jacobsen’s AJ), the Louis Poulsen company has collaborated with some of the Scandinavian design pioneers.
Fog & Mørup
Another brand to watch out for is. Fog & Mørup, a famous Danish design brand.
Founded in 1904 by Ansgar Fog and Erik Mørup, the company began by producing metal objects and went on to conquer the lighting world.
Thanks to the contribution of Johannes (Jo) Hammerborg in the 1960s and 1970s, Fog & Mørup achieved international fame with iconic lamps such as the Semi and the Falcon. In 2005, the company closed, but its legacy in the world of lighting design remains a true fortune to be passed down from generation to generation.
Nordisk Solar
Nordisk Solar, founded in 1919 by Jacob L. Jørgensen and Herluf Sørensen, began as an importer of electric meters. Later, production was converted to the purpose of building radios. In the 1960s, Nordisk Solar began to focus on high-quality lighting.
Even today, Nordisk Solar offers items selected from the best European manufacturers. Designers who have collaborated with the company over the decades include names such as Sigvard Bernadotte, Preben Fabricius, and Jørn Utzon.
Ateljé Lyktan
Ateljé Lyktan has roots dating back to 1934, when Hans Bergström and Verna Norell founded the company in Copenhagen. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, becoming known for its innovative lamps.
In the 1940s, ateljé Lyktan expanded its presence internationally, and in 1962 it was purchased by Philips. In the following years, the company continued to innovate, introducing iconic lamps such as the Bumling family.
Today, Ateljé Lyktan is a benchmark in the lighting industry, with an established presence in several European countries.
These are just a few of the best-known brands of Scandinavian vintage lamps of the highest quality. Want to know where to find authentic ones?
We tell you below.
Where to buy the original vintage Scandinavian lamps?
If you are looking for authentic vintage Scandinavian lamps, keep browsing here on the Casafika website.
We regularly set off to Scandinavian countries in search of authentic vintage pieces. We follow the whole process until the pieces arrive in Italy. At our headquarters in Brescia, Italy, we clean them up and perform a conservative restoration.
In the Lighting section there is exactly what you are looking for to illuminate your home with style and sophistication.
Take a piece of Scandinavian history home with you.
