Johan Petter Johansson floor lamp

This rare and highly adjustable floor lamp was designed by Johan Petter Johansson and produced in Sweden under the patented “Triplex” system. The lamp is a distinctive example of early 20th-century Swedish engineering applied to lighting design, featuring a mechanically complex yet elegantly resolved articulation system. The base is cast iron, providing solid counterbalance to the cantilevered form, while the structure is composed of polished brass tubing with integrated joint mechanisms.

The lamp’s most defining technical feature is the ball-and-socket joint system, prominently marked with the “TRIPLEX-PENDANT PATENT – Made in Sweden” inscription. This system, originally devised to allow maximum mobility with minimal visual interruption, permits multidirectional adjustment of the lamp arm, while maintaining structural integrity and ease of use. The flowing curvature of the brass tube, combined with the spherical joint housings, gives the lamp a dynamic, sculptural presence even at rest.

The shade is a modern pleated Le Klint model, made from translucent white plastic with the brand’s signature radial folding technique. The conical form of the shade enhances the downlight character of the lamp while distributing a soft, diffused glow. When illuminated, the pleated surface takes on an architectural quality, revealing its precision folds and subtly refracting the warm light.

Johan Petter Johansson (1853–1943) was a Swedish inventor and industrialist best known for inventing the adjustable spanner and pipe wrench. His design legacy also includes early innovations in lighting mechanisms, particularly those facilitating movement and directionality. The Triplex lamp concept, patented in the 1910s, was one of the first of its kind to prioritize functional adjustability, and it laid the groundwork for modern task lighting.

The lamp remains in excellent condition with a well-preserved black enameled cast iron base and an even patina to the brass elements. All adjustment joints are operational and stable. The shade is in pristine condition, without visible warping or damage.

Dimensions: Width 48 cm (18.9 inches), Depth 110 cm (43.3 inches), Height 175 cm (68.9 inches).