Paavo Tynell table lamp

This rare table lamp, model number 5066, was designed by Paavo Tynell and produced by Taito Oy in Finland during the 1950s. The design combines refined proportions with a carefully balanced material palette, consisting of dark-stained beech, brass, and a pleated fabric shade. The lamp’s columnar wooden stem is mounted on a circular brass base, which integrates the switch and displays subtle surface engravings. The shade, with its square top and rounded corners, is topped by a perforated brass plate featuring a radiating pattern of tiny holes that allow points of light to pass through, creating a decorative constellation-like effect when illuminated.

The craftsmanship reflects Tynell’s ability to merge functional lighting with decorative artistry. The pleated fabric shade diffuses light evenly, producing a soft, warm glow, while the perforated brass top adds an additional ambient lighting element and visual detail. The design’s symmetry and clarity are characteristic of mid-century Finnish lighting, where simplicity of form is enriched by high-quality materials and subtle ornamentation.

Paavo Tynell (1890–1973) was one of Finland’s most celebrated lighting designers, often referred to as “the man who illuminated Finland”. He co-founded Taito Oy in 1918 and served as its chief designer, creating works that combined traditional craftsmanship with modernist elegance. Tynell’s lamps are known for their graceful lines, use of brass, and signature perforated patterns, which became a hallmark of his style. His designs were widely used in both public and private interiors, and many are now considered icons of Scandinavian lighting design.

The lamp’s excellent condition, with only small signs of usage and some engravings on the foot, reflects careful preservation over time. Its blend of natural wood, warm-toned brass, and finely crafted fabric shade situates it firmly within the Scandinavian mid-century design tradition, where function, material quality, and understated decorative detail work in harmony.

Dimensions: 42 cm in height (16.5 inches), shade width and depth 31.5 cm (12.4 inches).