Gunnar Bostlund was trained at the Technical University of Denmark, and his wife Lotte studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the Danish School for Arts and Crafts. Their first factory produced technical ceramics, specifically porcelain insulators. In 1952 the factory was destroyed by fire and the young couple emigrated from their native Denmark to Canada.
At that time, Gunnar and Lotte started producing art pottery, primarily vases, teapots and salt and pepper shakers. They produced their first lamp in 1956, and son Morten introduced the wound fiberglass shade in the early 60s. Eventually the factory employed all the Bostlund children. While the company started in Canada, it expanded to Batavia, New York and then to Holley, New York. Many of the early designs were hand-painted or carved by Lotte or other members of the family.
Lotte lamps are an original mid-century modern product line, with two of the original three lamps still in production, using the same plaster molds and glaze techniques as their first lamps. Morten Bostlund transferred the company in 1997 to Victor and Laura Aume, another couple with a passion for ceramics and design. Victor has studied art and engineering at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Art. The Aumes live in Circleville, Ohio, where they produce Lotte lamps in their barn.
From lottelamps.com
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Lotte applying a design to a lamp
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Morten wiring a lamp
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Storefront window of Georg Jensen's on Fifth Avenue in New York in 1962
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| vandm.com |
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| thefabulousfind.ca |
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| 1stdibs.com |
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| 1stdibs.com |
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Some of the current Lotte Lamp colors
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