Fog & Mørup Optima Pendant Lamp

Fog & Mørup Optima pendant lamp 1973 design: Hans Due white metal disc lampshade 1970s Denmark E27

Fog & Mørup Optima pendant lamp 1973 design: Hans Due white metal disc lampshade 1970s Denmark label

Fog & Mørup Optima pendant lamp – Catalogue picture

Lamps In The Movies

A Fog & Mørup Optima pendant lamp was used as a prop in the 2014 mystery thriller film Before I Go to Sleep. Starring Nicole Kidman, Mark Strong and Colin Firth.

Many thanks to Frank from nullviernull raum+kommunikation for the beautiful pictures. You can find his shop over here on Ebay.

Materials: White painted metal (aluminium) disc lampshade. White painted tube on top. White painted aluminium ring below. The lampshade is also painted white inside. The inner circle has a red rim. Some metal parts. White painted Bakelite E27 socket.

Cord Length: 60 cm / 23.62”

Height: 24 cm / 9.44”

Width: ∅ 50 cm / 19.68”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 75 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Not any type of light bulb can be used, a silver tipped bulb is preferred.

Period: 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Hans Due in 1972.

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

Other versions: The Fog & Mørup Optima pendant lamp exists in 3 versions and several colours. This one is the biggest version. Also striped lamps exists. Table, wall and floor lamps were also made. A desk lamp can be found over here. The smallest pendant lamp version over here.

The Optima pendant lamp and how it was created 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 graphic designer, painter, and photographer. From 1956 to 1958 he studied under the illustrator Des Asmussen, the painter August Toersleff, and the sculptor Professor Gottfred Eickhoff.

From 1958 to 1963, Due trained at a graphic design studio in Copenhagen, and in 1965 he graduated from the Graphic Arts Institute of Denmark in Copenhagen. That same year he spent a year in Paris, France, studying graphics and photography.

From 1966 to 1974, Due worked as a graphic designer and art director at various advertising and design firms. In 1974 he founded his own company, Due Design A/S, where he remained active until 2005.

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

Since 2005, Due has also been active as a painter. His “New Realism” works have been exhibited in many venues over the years.

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.