Paavo Tynell
Standing lamp in brass, wood and rattan
Designed for Idman
Finland, 1950’s
41 x 272 cm | 16 1/8 x 107 1/8 in
Standing lamp in brass, wood and rattan
Designed for Idman
Finland, 1950’s
41 x 272 cm | 16 1/8 x 107 1/8 in
Paavo Tynell (1890–1973) was a pioneering Finnish designer and one of the most influential lighting designers of the 20th century. Trained as a metalworker, he co-founded Taito Oy in Helsinki in 1918, where he served as chief designer and director for several decades.
Tynell became known for his elegant combination of brass, glass and perforated metal, often incorporating delicate, nature-inspired forms such as leaves, flowers and snowflakes. He collaborated with leading Finnish architects including Alvar Aalto, designing lighting for important buildings and interiors. His work later gained considerable recognition in the United States, particularly after the 1940s, and he became affectionately known as “the man who illuminated Finland.”
Tynell became known for his elegant combination of brass, glass and perforated metal, often incorporating delicate, nature-inspired forms such as leaves, flowers and snowflakes. He collaborated with leading Finnish architects including Alvar Aalto, designing lighting for important buildings and interiors. His work later gained considerable recognition in the United States, particularly after the 1940s, and he became affectionately known as “the man who illuminated Finland.”