Links (external links open in a new window)
Massive – Wikipedia (in Dutch)
The complete history of the Philips company
Vintageinfo
1960s convex opal glass table lamp – Similar lamp
Ribbed opal glass pumpkin pendant lamp
Oval ribbed glass pendant lamp
Many thanks to Bart for the catalogue picture.
1950s Scandinavian Table Lamp
Materials: Round brass base bottom. Round wood (teak) “dish” on top. Brass arrow. 2 curved brass rods. 2 white ribbed frosted opal glass tubular lampshades. Metal E14 sockets.
Height: 41,5 cm / 16.33”
Width: 19,5 cm / 7.67”
Electricity: 2 E14 light bulbs, 2 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used. But preferable a white/opaque one.
Period: 1950s, 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer: To be appraised.
Manufacturer: Massive, Mortsel, Kontich and Wommelgem, Belgium.
Other versions: The glass of this 1950s Scandinavian table lamp was used for many lamps. It is very similar to the glass Philips used, but it is more curved. A comparable table lamp can be found here. This table lamp is model 12718.
Massive
Massive was in origin a bronze foundry and they produced mainly candlesticks, crucifixes and chandeliers in Wilrijk near Antwerp, Belgium. The company was founded in 1926 by Pieter-Jozef De Jaeck. His son Eddy De Jaeck was responsible for the huge expansion of the company in the 1970s. But it were his sons, Piet and Jan De Jaeck who made Massive a true multinational. Thus, they moved production to Eastern Europe and China.
In the 1980s Massive became the leading brand in Europe. In 2002, the brothers left the company to the investment fund CVC Capital Partners, for allegedly more than 250 million euros.
Since 2008 the company is owned by Philips and the name of the shops is changed into Light Gallery.
When the takeover by Philips was announced in November 2006 Massive commercialized more than 10.000 lighting products under brand names such as Massive, TRIO and Lirio. The group had about 5.000 employees worldwide and was active in 70 countries.