Bertil Brisborg table lamp

Rare table lamp model 30331, designed for Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) in Sweden and created in 1941. The model is designed by Bertil Brisborg.

The lamp is constructed in brass and elm, with a strongly vertical, symmetrical composition. A circular brass base supports a tall, tapered elm stem, its warm honey-brown color and visible grain contrasting with the golden metal. The stem gradually narrows toward the top and supports a broad, shallow domed brass reflector. A small cylindrical brass finial is positioned centrally above the shade, while a white push-button switch is integrated into the base.

The shade forms the dominant horizontal element of the design. Its low hemispherical profile measures substantially wider than the base, producing the characteristic disc-like silhouette of the lamp. The brass exterior has a warm yellow-gold tone, while the underside is finished in a pale reflective surface. The broad reflector shields the bulbs when the lamp is viewed from normal standing or seated height and directs most of the illumination downward.

When illuminated, the underside of the shade becomes a warm yellow-gold reflecting surface, producing a concentrated pool of light below and around the lamp. Some light also reaches the elm stem, emphasizing its taper and grain. The lighting arrangement therefore functions differently from a conventional fabric-shaded table lamp: the metal reflector controls the direction of the light while the two bulbs distribute illumination across its broad interior.

Bertil Brisborg (1910–1993) became head of Nordiska Kompaniet’s lighting department in 1941 and remained closely connected with its development into the postwar period. His work at NK formed part of the transition toward the design language now identified with Swedish Modern, and he was responsible for numerous lighting designs during the 1940s and 1950s.

Nordiska Kompaniet maintained a substantial lighting department alongside its better-known furniture activities.

Model 30331 reflects the Swedish Modern approach through its limited material palette and clearly separated geometric components: a circular base, elongated conical stem and shallow circular dome. The combination of brass and elm introduces a deliberate contrast between metal and natural wood without additional ornament. Archival evidence is particularly useful for this model because the 1941 creation date and its appearance in NK’s 1942 catalogue establish it firmly within the early-1940s development of Swedish Modern lighting.

The lamp measures 35 cm in diameter and 42 cm in height, corresponding to approximately 13.8 inches in diameter and 16.5 inches in height. Comparable documented examples of model 30331 have closely corresponding proportions and are likewise described as being made from brass and elm.

The lamp is in good vintage condition with small signs of use. The photographs show age-related variation and patination across the brass shade and base, including light surface marks and areas of darker coloration. The elm stem retains its warm brown tone and visible grain, with minor traces of use consistent with age.