Ceiling lamp
This ceiling lamp, also suitable as a flush mount fixture, was produced in Sweden and is a rare example of early 20th-century decorative lighting rooted in the Swedish Grace movement. Swedish Grace, a stylistic phase active primarily in the 1920s and 1930s, bridged neoclassicism and early functionalism, favoring elegance, fine craftsmanship, and ornamentation inspired by classical antiquity and mythology.
The lamp features a large circular glass shade made from thick frosted raw glass with an etched, or sandblasted, decorative motif of stylized nude figures arranged in dynamic motion. The figures, reminiscent of classical bas-reliefs, appear in fluid, suspended poses, forming a continuous circular frieze around the center. Each body is rendered with anatomical precision and idealized grace, their limbs extended in dance-like sequences that enhance the sculptural quality of the piece. The radiating lines behind the figures subtly reinforce the sense of celestial or mythic movement, creating a luminous interplay when illuminated.
The shade is secured with a centrally mounted nickel-plated metal fitting, minimal in design and consistent with the period’s restrained but refined hardware. The edge of the glass is left rough-cut, maintaining a tactile contrast with the otherwise smooth and finely detailed surface. When lit, the fixture emits a soft and atmospheric glow, and the relief decoration becomes visually pronounced, casting gentle shadows and highlights across the ceiling.
This piece embodies the transitional aesthetic of the Swedish Grace era, combining classical themes with early modernist formal restraint. It likely originated in the 1920s or early 1930s and would have originally served in domestic or cultural settings that valued both artistic decoration and architectural coherence.
The dimensions are 70 cm in diameter and 25 cm in height, which corresponds to approximately 27.6 inches by 9.8 inches. The condition is consistent with age, showing a well-preserved glass surface and patinated metal components, and the lamp remains structurally sound and visually compelling.
Dimensions (cm) | H: 25 / ⌀: 70 |
Decade | 1930s |
Country | Sweden |
Style | Swedish Grace |
Material | Glass, Nickel plated metal |
Designed in | 1930s |
Item Number | 250134 |