Fog & Mørup Optima Desk Lamp

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Fog & Mørup Optima desk lamp design: Hans Due white metal base chrome rod round lampshade 1970s

Fog & Mørup Optima desk lamp – Catalogue picture

Lamps In The Movies

A chrome Fog & Mørup Optima desk lamp was used as a set decoration in the 2008British TV series Wallander. Here in season 1, episode 1. Starring Kenneth Branagh, Sarah Smart and Tom Hiddleston. Many other lamps appear in this series.

A Fog & Mørup Optima desk lamp or floor lamp was used in a 2021, 2022 commercial of the Ola Magnum double salted caramel ice cream.

Fog & Mørup Optima floor lamp

Materials: White painted metal (iron) base. Chrome rods, joint and ornamental screw. Adjustable round white aluminium lampshade with a white painted tube on top. Some metal and plastic parts. White painted Bakelite E27 socket.

Height: 56 cm / 22.04”

Lampshade: ∅ 20 cm / 7.87”

Max Width: 34 cm / 13.38”

Base: ∅ 21 cm / 8.26”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, no a specific one preferred.

Period: 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Hans Due in 1972.

Manufacturer: Fog & Mørup A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Other versions: The Fog & Mørup Optima desk lamp was made in several colours. The series also included wall, pendant and floor lamps. The large pendant version can be found here. The small pendant version can be found here.

The creation of the Optima pendant lamp is described in the book Danish Lights – 1920 to Now on page 130.

Hans Due

Hans Due (born 5 January 1941 in Nyboder, Copenhagen, Denmark) is a Danish graphic designer, painter and photographer. Between 1956 and 1958, he studied under the illustrator Des Asmussen, the painter August Toersleff and the sculptor Professor Gottfred Eickhoff. He then trained at a graphic design studio in Copenhagen from 1958 to 1963, before continuing his studies at the Graphic Arts Institute of Denmark, where he graduated in 1965. That same year, he also spent time in Paris, studying graphics and photography.

From 1966 to 1974, Due worked as a graphic designer and art director for various advertising and design firms. In 1974, he founded Due Design A/S, remaining active there until 2005.

For Fog & Mørup, he designed the Optima series, the Phister lamp and the Formel series.

Since 2005, Hans Due has devoted himself more fully to painting. His work, often described as New Realism, has been exhibited widely.

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.