Paavo Tynell ceiling lamp

This early ceiling lamp, model 9029/5, was made in Finland in the 1950s by Paavo Tynell and produced by Taito Oy. Its framework is crafted from solid brass, now bearing a warm, honeyed patina that softens the metal’s original sheen. From a central vertical rod, five slender arms gently curve outward, each terminating in a tulip-shaped glass shade. The shades are mouth-blown in a soft ivory tone, the glass walls varying subtly in thickness and hue, creating an elegant, muted glow when illuminated.

The lamp’s silhouette balances organic flourish with structural precision. The tulip shades are arranged in a perfect radial pattern around the hub, their rounded forms offset by the crisp, arching lines of the brass arms. Interlaced among these elements are stylized botanical motifs fashioned from perforated brass mesh and fine wire. These mesh leaves and delicate stem-like tendrils lend the piece a sculptural lightness, as though vines have woven themselves through the lamp’s metal skeleton.

Paavo Tynell (1890–1973) was a defining figure in mid-century Scandinavian lighting design. Trained as an architect, he brought architectural rigor to decorative lighting, marrying modernist simplicity with handcrafted detailing. At Taito Oy, of which he was a founding partner, Tynell pioneered combinations of brass and glass that became internationally sought after. His designs often incorporated naturalistic forms—buds, petals, leaves—executed with technical restraint, as seen in this model’s interplay of rigid arms and fluid botanical accents.

Taito Oy, later merged into Idman, maintained Tynell’s standards of artisanal excellence. Production of the 9029/5 involved precise brass casting and hand-finishing, as well as individual mouth-blowing of each glass diffuser. The lamp bears the Taito mark, its model number 9029/5, and a serial reference stamped into the interior hub, attesting to its provenance. Over time, the brass has developed a fine, even oxidation that underscores the handmade character without impairing its structural integrity.

This example remains in very good vintage condition. The brass framework shows only minor surface wear consistent with decades of careful display, while the mesh leaves retain their original perforation detail without deformation. The glass shades are free of cracks or chips, their surfaces retaining the subtle irregularities of hand-blown work. Its overall dimensions are 60 cm in diameter and 100 cm in height (approximately 23.6 by 39.4 inches).