Verner Panton Topan Pendant Lamp

Materials: Orange lacquered aluminium globe lampshade. Orange cord. Porcelain E27 socket.

Cord: 250 cm / 98.42”

Height: 19 cm / 7.48”

Width: ∅ 21 cm / 8.26”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

Period: 1950s, 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Verner Panton (1926-1998) in 1959.

Manufacturer: Louis Poulsen & Co A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Other versions: This Verner Panton Topan pendant lamp exists in many colours.

The Topan pendant lamp, originally designed in 1959 for the hotel and restaurant Astoria in Trondheim, Norway, was his first mass produced lamp. It has a long cord, the lamp has to hang as low as possible above the table or floor, to avoid blinding people.

Sold ever since, today in 2020 the Topan pendant lamp is no longer on the Louis Poulsen website. But new ones are still available in several shops.

Verner Panton

Verner Panton was born on 13 February 1926 in Gamtofte, Denmark and is considered as one of the most influential 20th-century furniture and interior designers.  He studied architecture at the Royal Art Academy in Copenhagen, Denmark and in his last year in 1950 he started to work for Arne Jacobsen.

From 1953 until 1955 he studied in various European countries and in 1955 he started his own business. Verner Panton received numerous awards for his designs. He passed away in Copenhagen on 5 September 1998.

Louis Poulsen

Louis Poulsen & CO A/S is a Danish lighting manufacturer that was founded in 1874 by Ludvig R. Poulsen as a wine importing business. 4 years later the firm closed down. However, in 1892 Ludvig Poulsen opened his second business, this time selling tools and electrical supplies.

Two years later in 1896 his nephew Louis Poulsen started to work for the company. After the dead of Ludvig in 1906, Louis takes over the business.
In 1911 Sophus Kaastrup-Olsen becomes a partner in the firm and the name changes in Louis Poulsen & Co A/S. Six years later Sophus Kaastrup-Olsen becomes the sole owner of the company.

The best known designers that worked for Louis Poulsen are Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, Vilhelm Lauritzen, Shoichi Uchiyama and many others.