Fog & Mørup Athene Pendant Lamp – Jørgen Raaschou-Nielsen – Designer
Image © copyright 1996, Erling Mandelmann
Links (external links open in a new window)
Architect company J. Raaschou-Nielsen A / S website
Lightyears – Republic of Fritz Hansen
Horn Belysnign history -Danish Vintage Design
The story of Fog & Mørup, Danish modern lighting superstar: www.classic-modern.co.uk/fog_morup
Fog & Mørup Athene Pendant Lamp
Materials: Conical brown panted aluminium lampshade, painted white inside. White painted ring diffusser. Some metal parts. Bakelite E27 socket.
Cord: 120 cm / 47.24”
Height: 13 cm / 5.11”
Width: ∅ 27,5 cm / 10.82”
Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 75 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb with an E27 screw base can be used.
Period: 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer: Jørgen Raaschou-Nielsen in 1977.
Manufacturer: Fog & Mørup A/S and Holmegaard, Denmark.
Other versions: This Fog & Mørup Athene pendant lamp exists in a few colours and 3 sizes. They are named Athena 1 (27,5 cm / 10.82”, Athena 2 (37 cm / 14.56” and Athena 3 (50 cm / 19.68”). This one is Athena 1.
Jørgen Raaschou-Nielsen
Jørgen Raaschou-Nielsen, born 25 June 1936 in Copenhagen, Denmark is an architect and industrial designer. He was a student at the Sorø Academy and the Art Academy.
Since 1972 he has his own design studio. As an architect he is specialised in rebuilding and renovation of buildings, houses and castles, with care for and insight into the buildings’ historical identity. Jørgen Raaschou-Nielsen retired but the company still exists. It is still a family business and is run by his children. It is named: Architect company J. Raaschou-Nielsen A / S, Industrial design and product design.
Fog & Mørup
Ansgar Fog (1880-1930) and Erik Mørup (1879-1972) started their business together in 1904 as a metalwork wholesaler. Two years later they moved to the capital Copenhagen and began to focus on lighting production and over the years taking over several electrical and lighting companies. It was only in the early 1960s that Fog & Mørup really emerged as a key force in lighting design, following the company’s appointment in 1957 of Jo Hammerborg as head of design.
Important designers and architects that worked for the company are: Claus Bonderup, Torsten Thorup, Sidse Werner. Sophus Frandsen, Jørgen Bo, E. Balslev, Peter Avondoglio,. Karen Clemmensen, Ebbe Clemmensen, Hans Due and of course Jo Hammerborg himself.
Lyfa
In the late 1970s Fog & Mørup merged with Lyfa, another leading Danish lighting producer. In 1980 Jo Hammerborg retired. A few years later Lyfa-Fog & Mørup was taken over by Lyskær. The name changed to Lyskaer-Lyfa.
Lyskaer-Lyfa produced lights until 1991, when it was incorporated into Horn Belysning A/S from Aalstrup, also in Denmark, which was itself taken over in 2005 by Nordlux from Ålborg and at a large extent dismantled.
Horn Belysning
The Horn Belysning A/S company was founded in 1952 as a family business and was first named E.S. Horn. In 1963 it changed into Horn Belysning – Horn Lighting.
The company produced lights for IKEA and several other European retail chains. They designed lights but also imported lights from China. In the 1980s Horn was the second biggest light company in Denmark.
In 2005 the name changed into Lightyears, today owned by Republic of Fritz Hansen.
Vintageinfo links
Life pendant lamp – 1960s glass lamp
Life pendant lamp – metal lamp
Many thanks to Craig from From our house to Bauhaus for the beautiful pictures and enthusiasm. You can find his shop on Ebay over here.