Fog & Mørup Optima Pendant Lamp

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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

Before I Go to Sleep (2014)

A Fog & Mørup Optima pendant lamp was used as a set decoration 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 pictures. You can find his shop over here on Pamono.

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 was made in three sizes and in several colours. This is the largest version. Striped versions were also available. The series further included table, wall and floor lamps. A desk lamp can be found here. The smallest pendant version can be found here.

The story behind 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.