Paavo Tynell ceiling lamp

This ceiling lamp was designed by Finnish lighting master Paavo Tynell and produced by Idman during the mid-20th century in Finland. Paavo Tynell was one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Nordic lighting design. Renowned for his delicate metalwork and poetic use of brass, Tynell’s designs bridged functionalism with decorative elegance, often drawing inspiration from natural and organic forms. Idman, a Finnish lighting manufacturer, was a primary producer of Tynell’s works from the 1940s through the 1950s, and their collaboration resulted in many of the most sought-after examples of Scandinavian lighting.

The lamp is composed entirely of brass and features an elegant structure with a shallow, inverted dome-shaped reflector suspended by a delicate cage of vertical rods. The central suspension includes main rods that are surrounded and intersected by a network of finer bent brass elements, forming a filigree-like stem and upper flourish with floral and architectural undertones. This upper crown radiates outward in a soft organic pattern that casts layered shadows when illuminated, characteristic of Tynell’s interest in atmospheric lighting.

The reflector bowl is made of spun brass with a polished surface. The underside is pierced with small perforations in geometric starburst groupings, which create subtle points of light when the lamp is lit. A lower wire cage element acts as a visual pendant beneath the reflector and provides structural anchoring while also echoing the floral wire detailing above.

The overall composition is symmetrical and refined, with an emphasis on lightness and linear rhythm despite its fully metallic construction. The brass has acquired a soft patina consistent with age, enhancing the depth and character of the lamp without diminishing its condition. It remains in excellent structural and visual condition, with all components intact and original.

This piece is a prime example of Tynell’s ability to elevate functional lighting into architectural ornamentation. The stylistic language reflects the transition from Nordic classicism into mid-century modernism, enriched by Tynell’s unique interpretation of nature through brass craftsmanship.

The dimensions are 54 cm in height and 60 cm in diameter, corresponding to approximately 21.3 inches tall and 23.6 inches in diameter.