Svend Aage Holm Sørensen

Svend Aage Holm-Sørensen (1913–2004) was a Danish designer and lighting manufacturer best known for his expressive and sculptural mid-century modern lighting designs. Trained as a furniture designer, Holm-Sørensen became internationally recognized for his innovative and playful approach to lighting, which combined functionalist principles with distinctive artistic flair.

He began designing lighting in the 1930s and founded his own company, Holm-Sørensen & Co., which produced a wide range of lamps for both domestic and public spaces. His work is especially noted for its inventive use of perforated metal, raw brass, enameled steel, and biomorphic shapes, often incorporating asymmetry, slits, and light-diffusing perforations to create dramatic shadow play and visual interest.

Key characteristics of Holm-Sørensen’s designs include:

Decorative perforations (sometimes known as "light slits") that filter and sculpt light in distinctive ways.

Raw and patinated brass or copper finishes, often left untreated to develop character over time.

Bold, graphic forms, including wall lamps, pendant lights, table and floor lamps with sculptural arms or shade configurations.

While his designs were less well known internationally during his lifetime compared to some Danish contemporaries, Holm-Sørensen’s work has seen a strong revival in recent years, particularly among collectors and design historians who appreciate his dynamic forms and atmospheric use of light.