Gunnel Nyman table lamp

This is a rare mid-century table lamp designed by Finnish glass artist Gunnel Nyman and produced by Nuutajärvi Glassworks in Finland during the 1950s. The lamp combines transparent and colored glass with a finely executed sommerso technique, in which a violet inner core is encapsulated within a thick outer layer of clear glass. The central colored mass features a dense, evenly spaced network of fine air bubbles arranged in vertical and horizontal alignment, a hallmark of Nyman’s refined control over the bubble-glass process.

The form of the lamp base is elongated and teardrop-shaped, tapering gradually from the widest point at the base to a narrow top where it is capped with a cylindrical brass collar. The fixture includes a white ceramic bulb socket mounted on a brass stem. The original lampshade is not included with this piece. The overall construction combines artistic glasswork with utilitarian components, typical of Scandinavian lighting from the postwar period.

The lamp measures 45 cm in height and 9 cm in diameter (17.72 inches high by 3.54 inches in diameter). It is preserved in good vintage condition, showing small signs of use such as minor surface wear and subtle scratches on the base, but no major cracks or chips.

Gunnel Nyman (1909–1948) was a pioneering figure in Finnish modernist glass design, known for her lyrical and technically sophisticated work that merged organic form with structural clarity. She trained in Helsinki and worked with both Riihimäki and Nuutajärvi glassworks. Though her career was tragically brief, Nyman left a significant legacy through limited production art pieces and experimental designs, many of which influenced later generations of Scandinavian glassmakers.

Nuutajärvi, established in 1793, is Finland’s oldest glass factory and a key institution in the history of Nordic decorative arts. In the mid-20th century, it became known for collaborating with leading designers to produce high-quality art glass and functional objects that bridged the gap between studio craftsmanship and industrial design.