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 – archived
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: The Fog & Mørup Athene pendant lamp was made in a few colours and in three sizes. These were named Athena 1 (27.5 cm / 10.82 inches), Athena 2 (37 cm / 14.56 inches) and Athena 3 (50 cm / 19.68 inches). This one is the Athena 1.
Jørgen Raaschou-Nielsen
Jørgen Raaschou-Nielsen, born in 1936, is a Danish architect and industrial designer. He studied at Sorø Academy and later at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen.
In 1972, he founded his own studio, Arkitektfirma J. Raaschou-Nielsen, in Copenhagen. As an architect, he specialised in the restoration, rebuilding and renovation of houses, historic buildings and castles, always with care for their historical identity. One of his best-known projects was the renovation of Usserød Klædefabrik, which received a Europa Nostra Award in 1987. He later retired, and the firm remained in family hands for many years.
Fog & Mørup
Fog & Mørup was founded in 1904 by Ansgar Fog (1880–1930) and Erik Mørup (1879–1972), originally as a metalwork wholesaler. In 1906 the company moved to Copenhagen and gradually developed into one of Denmark’s leading lighting manufacturers. Its strongest creative period began after Jo Hammerborg joined the company in 1957 as head of design, helping to establish Fog & Mørup as a major name in Danish modern lighting.
Designers and architects associated with the company include Jo Hammerborg, Claus Bonderup, Torsten Thorup, Sidse Werner, Sophus Frandsen, Jørgen Bo, E. Balslev, Peter Avondoglio, Karen Clemmensen, Ebbe Clemmensen and Hans Due.
Lyfa
Lyfa was founded in 1903 as Kjøbenhavns Lampe- og Lysekronefabrik. By the mid-20th century it had become one of the most important Danish lighting manufacturers, working with designers such as Bent Karlby, Louis Weisdorf, Piet Hein, Finn Juhl, Nils and Eva Koppel and others. In the late 1970s, Lyfa merged with Fog & Mørup, although both brands continued for a time to be marketed separately.
In the early 1980s, the combined Lyfa–Fog & Mørup business was taken over by Lyskær, after which the Fog & Mørup name gradually disappeared. Lyskaer–Lyfa remained active until 1991, when it was incorporated into Horn Belysning A/S.
Horn Belysning
Horn Belysning A/S, originally E.S. Horn, was founded in 1952 in Aalestrup, Denmark. In 1963 the company adopted the name Horn Belysning. It grew into a major volume producer for the Scandinavian and European market and counted IKEA among its important customers. By the 1980s, Horn was one of the largest lighting companies in Denmark.
In 1991, Horn Belysning acquired Lyskaer–Lyfa, which by then also included brands such as Lyfa, Fog & Mørup and ABO. In 2005, Horn was restructured: the outdoor lighting activities were sold to Nordlux, while the remaining company was relaunched as Lightyears. Lightyears was later acquired by 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. You can find his shop on Ebay over here.
























