The Søværnspendel

The origin of the light widely known as the Søværnspendel has been a topic of debate for several years. The word itself means "Navy pendant," which has given rise to one notion that it was designed by the Danish Navy. Others contend that it was designed by Jørn Utzon. The light has been produced by several companies, and in the 1950s few Danish products had names, which has helped give rise to the confusion.

Several years ago, the Vintage Danish Lights blog posted about the debate and received an email from Hans Marvell, from &tradition, the company that curently produces Utzon's Tivoli lamp. He stated that Utzon was definitely not the designer of the Søværnspendel but that he might have an interesting theory.

Marvell said that Nordisk Solar Compagni was the first to produce the lamp, followed later by the better known version by Louis Poulsen, who gave it the name Søværnspendel and who named the Søværnets Bygningsdistrikt (Navy Buildings Department) as the designer. A 1956 issue of Mobilia, a Danish magazine, had previously stated that the light was not designed by Jørn Utzon.

However, Marvell pointed out that Utzon's father Aage was an architect and designer for the Danish Navy, so it is possible that he might have had a hand in its design. Wouldn't that be an interesting coincidence?

From vintage-danish-lights.com

Nordisk Solar Compagni version
vamptvintagedesign.com

Louis Poulsen version
etsy.com - OldAndCold

In praise of the poster

I thought I outgrew posters as art several decades back, but these are too cool to pass up. Here's more mid-century goodness from Blue Ant Studio. I wouldn't mind having a whole wall full of these...but nowadays I'd spring for custom framing with some sort of snazzy matting instead of using the thumbtacks of my hippie pad youth.

Aalto

Eames + Nelson

Saarinen + Poulsen/Henningsen

Eames LCW

TWA Saarinen

Arne Jacobsen

Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and studied architecture at the Arts and Crafts Academy of Copenhagen. Upon graduating in 1927, he opened his own office. While his early work was influenced by Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Gunnar Asplund, he was firmly a part of the more organic modern movement by the 1950s. Charles Eames' s DCW inspired one of Jacobsen´s Ant chair (1952), which was ideally suited for mass production.

Jacobsen insisted on complete control of his projects, designing buildings and interiors that were beautifully cohesive, often designing the structures themselves, as well as the furniture, lighting, textiles and even the restaurant flatware.

His well-known Swan chair (1958) was designed for just such a project, the S.A.S. Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Other famous works include the Egg chair (1958) and his 1957 flatware for A. Michelsen, which was considered so futuristic that it appeared in Stanley Kubrick´s film 2001: A Space Odyssey. 

Honors and awards received by Jacobsen include the grand prize at the 1957 Triennale di Milano, the 1960 Grande Prix Internationale, the 1969 Industrial Design Prize, and the 1971 gold medal from the French Academy of Architecture. He designed for Fritz Hansen, Louis Poulsen, Vola, Stelton and Michelsen, among others.

From lostcityarts.com

Table
moma.org

Flora vase
georgjensenstore.com

Egg chair
tredir.com

Swan chair
takesunset.com

Centennium Vinkler fabric
edition20.com

Ant chair
edition20.com

Grand Prix chair
thescandanaviangroup.com

Flatware for A. Michelsen
worthpoint.com

Gran curtain fabric
edition20.com

Pronunciation Guide

Poul Henningsen

Poul Henningsen

Poul Henningsen (1894-1967) was born in Ordrup, Denmark. He was the son of a famous actress and studied at The Technical School in Fredericksburg, Denmark, and at Technical College in Copenhagen. He never completed his education, but he worked as an architect and designed two theaters, several homes, a factory and part of Tivoli Gardens. He also had a career as a writer. working for several newspapers and magazines.

Henningsen is best known as an expert on lighting and as a designer of lamps and lighting fixtures. He designed his first multi-shade lamp in 1924, winning the light fitting award at the Paris World Exhibition. His design, which later became known at the PH light, is also sometimes known as the Paris lamp.

His association with Louis Poulsen Lighting began in 1925 and continued until his death. His work concerning the relations between light structures, shadows, glare, and color reproduction and man’s need for light remain the foundation of the lighting theories still practiced by Louis Poulsen Lighting today.

From louispoulsen.com

Artichoke lamp
famouslighting.com

PH 3/2 Academy
voltex.me.uk

LP Centrum, with Kurt Norregaard
louispoulsen.com

PH 3/2 wall light
3faulke.dk

PH 5-4.5, with Ebbe Christensen and Sophus Frandsen
designer-lights.com

PH 4/3 table lamp
stardust.com

Pronunciation Guide