Jo Hammerborg

Johannes (Jo) Hammerborg was born on 4 February 1920 in Denmark. He grew up on the outskirts of Randers in a middle-class family, trained as a silversmith and, during 1940–45, served in the Danish resistance as a saboteur. After the war he studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and worked as a silversmith at Georg Jensen.

In 1957 Hammerborg became head of design at Fog & Mørup, a role he held until 1980. A pronounced idea-driven designer with a clear philosophy of form, function and restraint, he was a key force behind the company’s most creative and commercially successful years. He personally designed around 180 lamps for Fog & Mørup and also collaborated in refining others’ models; several of his designs received international awards. After a series of mergers beginning in 1980, Fog & Mørup eventually ceased production of his designs in the late 1990s.

Outside his professional life, Hammerborg was an avid and versatile athlete, a pilot and a pioneer in parachuting. He died in 1982, aged 62, in a parachuting accident.

Fog & Mørup

Ansgar Fog (1880–1930) and Erik Mørup (1879–1972) founded their business in 1904 as a metalwork wholesaler. Two years later they moved to Copenhagen, shifted their focus to lighting production, and over time acquired several electrical and lighting companies. Fog & Mørup emerged as a key force in lighting design in the early 1960s, following the appointment of Jo Hammerborg as head of design in 1957.

Notable designers and architects who worked with the company include: 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.

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, and the name changed to Lyskaer–Lyfa.

Lyskaer–Lyfa produced lights until 1991, when it was incorporated into Horn Belysning A/S of Aalstrup, Denmark, which was itself taken over in 2005 by Nordlux of Ålborg and, to a large extent, dismantled.

Horn Belysning

Horn Belysning A/S was founded in 1952 as a family business, initially named E.S. Horn. In 1963 it became Horn Belysning (Horn Lighting).

The company produced lighting for IKEA and several other European retail chains. It designed products and also imported lighting from China. In the 1980s Horn was the second-largest lighting company in Denmark.

In 2005 the name changed to Lightyears, which today is owned by Republic of Fritz Hansen.

Fog & Mørup Nova Pendant Lamp – Brass Version

Fog & Mørup Nova Pendant Lamp – Aluminium Version