Paavo Tynell Brass Floor Lamp

Materials: Round curved brass base. Cast iron counterweight inside the base. Long brass rod. Brass gooseneck. Conical perforated brass lampshade. Perforated with many small holes. Brass E27 socket with a ribbed porcelain ring.

Height: 133 – 169 cm / 52.36 – 66.53”

Lampshade: 12 x 19,5 cm / 4.72 x 7.67”

Base: ∅ 20 cm / 7.87”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 75 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used. Not a specific one preferred. 

Period: 1950s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Paavo Tynell – attributed.

Manufacturer: Taito Oy, Idman Oy, Helsinki, Finland – attributed.

Other versions: This Paavo Tynell brass floor lamp exists in several sizes and some variations.

This floor lamp is mostly attributed to Paavo Tynell (1890-1973), unfortunately, I could not find any proof for it. However, it has many similarities with the lamps he designed.

Paavo Tynell 

Paavo Tynell was born on 25 January 1890 in Helsinki, Finland. He started his career as a tinsmith and later as a blacksmith specialising on metal finishes. He qualified as a master craftsman in 1913.

In the same period Tynell studied at the Helsinki University of Industrial Arts, today named after another famous designer: the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

Together with Eric Ehrström, Frans Nykänen, Gösta Serlachius and Emil Wickström, he started his own company Oy Taito Ab in 1918. (Taito Oy or Skill Ltd.)

At first the company created mostly metal objects, also in silver. Later in the 1930s the emphasis was on lighting. Oy Taito Ab worked with many well known Finnish architects and designers, of which Alvar Aalto is the best known. The company produced lights for all his major projects.

After the Second World War in 1947, Paavo Tynell became involved with the Finland House in New York, USA. The Finland House was a gallery-showroom, restaurant and office building.

In the US he started designing custom made lighting for hotels, department stores, offices and private residences, all with perforated and polished brass as material. All lamps continued to be produced in Finland.

The Oy Taito Ab company was sold in 1953 to another Finnish lighting company, Idman Oy. Idman Oy was a business partner they’ve been cooperating with over the years.

Paavo Tynell worked as a freelancer for the American Lightcraft Inc. and Lightolier Inc. At Lightolier he worked with their in-house designer Gerald Thurston.

Tynell continued working for Idman. He designed their most popular lamp: the “Starry Sky” perforated flush mount or ceiling lamp. Idman produced it until the late 1970s in different variations. The original one was designed in the mid 1940s for Oy Taito Ab.

Helena Tynell

Paavo Tynell was married to Helena Tynell, born Helena Turpeinen (1918-2016). Between 1946 and 1976, she was one of the most influential designers in the Riihimäki Lasi – Riihimaen Lasi Oy glass factory. She also designed several lamps for Oy Taito Ab, Bega Leuchten  and Glashütte Limburg.

Paavo Tynell passed away in 1973 in Tuusula, Finland.