Links (external links open in a new window)
History of the Solar company on their website
Nordisk Solar Compani on Danish-Lights.com
Vintageinfo
Nordisk Solar Auditorie 3 Pendant Lamp
Materials: Conical white painted layered aluminium lampshade, painted whitee inside. Some metal and aluminium parts. Bakelite E27 socket.
Cord: 100 cm / 39.37”
Height: 27,5 cm / 10.82”
Width: ∅ 48,5 cm / 19.09”
Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 100 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.
Period: 1960s, 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer: Sven Middelboe.
Manufacturer: Nordisk Solar Compagni, Denmark.
Other versions: The Nordisk Solar Auditorie 3 pendant lamp exists in several colours. Other models have another number, as you can see in the catalogue picture.
Sven Middelboe
Sven Middelboe was born in 1910. He had is own lighting company together with architect and designer Jørn Utson. Later he became the permanent designer of Nordisk Solar. For the company he designed many lamps.
His most well known design is the famous Verona pendant lamp from 1968. Other lamps are, among others, the Tivoli pendant lamp, Sundowner pendant lamp, Lillesput wall lamp and the Rondo flush mount. Sven Middelboe passed away in 2002.
Nordisk Solar
Nordisk Solar was founded in 1919 by Jacob L. Jørgensen and Herluf Sørensen. The company started business as an import and wholesale company of electricity meters. Later they produced radios under the name Audiola. Since the early 1960s “Solar” focused on high-quality lighting.
Harald Jørgensen takes over the position as Chairman of the Board in Audiola after the death of his father. The lighting production is extracted from Audiola and carries on as an independent department under the name “Solar Fittings Production” in Nordisk Solar Compagni.
In 1990 Solar bought Swedish lamp manufacturer Hans-Agne Jakobsson A/S and sells it to Thorn Lighting in 1998.
Today, Solar still handles lighting, but now via the Solar Light concept, which is based on procured products from leading European lighting manufacturers.
Designers that worked for the company are, among others: Sigvard Bernadotte, Acton Bjørn, Max Brüel, Vagn Dyring, Preben Fabricius, Anton Fogh Holm, Jørgen Kastholm, Eva Koppel, Nils Koppel, Sven Middelboe and Jørn Utzon.
Nordisk Solar Auditorie 3 Pendant Lamp – Catalogue picture
Many thanks to Craig from From our house to Bauhaus for the beautiful pictures and enthusiasm. You can find his shop on Ebay over here.