Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy '9212B' Table Lamp in Brass and Leather

Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy, desk lamp, model '9212B', brass, leather, Finland, 1950s

Paavo Tynell was a pioneering Finnish designer who helped shape early 20th-century lighting in Finland. He belonged to the generation that, during the 1920s and 1930s, laid the foundation for the Finnish art industry on which the renowned design movement of the 1950s would later flourish. His most active design years fell between 1919 and 1954, when Oy Taito Ab was in full operation. During that period, he created numerous decorative lamps, which found their way into both public buildings, such as churches, hospitals, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, schools, offices, and factories, and private homes. The late 1940s were particularly prolific for Tynell; it was then that his signature decorative style fully matured, blending functionalism with ornamental elements. Taito’s reputation grew among prominent architects, making it one of Finland’s leading lighting manufacturers.

This particular desk lamp, with its organic yet structured silhouette, reflects his signature approach to brass as both a sculptural and utilitarian medium. The conical brass shade is elegantly supported by a fluid, undulating stem, firmly grounded on a circular base through a sculpted, angular support. The light escapes through the tiny perforations, creating an almost celestial effect when illuminated. The partially leather-wrapped stem creates a captivating contrast with the brass while also serving a practical purpose as a comfortable grip.