Design Icons – explore our iconic lamps

Light has a central role in design that goes beyond its practical purpose. It is also considered an art form and has a major impact on how people experience a space. Lighting has the ability to influence the atmosphere, mood and perception of spaces and is central to creating engaging, functional and sustainable environments.

There are many designer lamps that have influenced the history of lighting and achieved iconic status over the years due to their unique aesthetics, technological innovation and cultural impact. We at Nordiska Galleriet have collected 12 iconic lamps that, with their function and elegance, became design icons during the 20th century - and still are today.

1924: Bauhaus Table Lamp WG 24

The WG 24 table lamp, created by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Tecnolumen in 1924 and often known as the Bauhaus lamp, is a masterpiece with a fascinating history. Accepted as a journeyman at the age of 24 at the Bauhaus workshop in Weimar, and under the guidance of Bauhaus teacher László Moholy-Nagy, Wagenfeld became a groundbreaking industrial design pioneer of the 20th century - thanks to the WG 24 table lamp.

Although the table lamp was originally handmade, its intention was to mimic an industrial product. With a graceful shape and nickel-plated metal, along with the domed opal glass shade, Wagenfeld's table lamp has survived for decades and has lost none of its appeal.

1935: 9602 Floor Lamp

In 2018, the 9602 Floor Lamp was relaunched by Gubi as the 9602 Floor Lamp Pierre Frey Special Edition and launched exclusively at the Nordic Gallery. The original 1935 design was created by Finnish designer Paavo Tynell for Hotel Aulanko in Helsinki. The lamp consists of a stem wrapped in rattan, a base in polished brass and a conical crown that brings the whole design together. It is an excellent example of timeless and functional design, and has become Tynell's most celebrated work.

1947: Gräshoppa by Greta M. Grossman for Gubi

The iconic Grasshopper floor lamp was first produced in 1947 by feminist pioneer Greta Magnusson Grossman. Its unique inclined tripod stand provides a dynamic expression and is one of Grossman's most prominent design creations for Gubi. The floor lamp combines stylish aesthetics with high functionality, and its authentic design includes a long, rotatable conical top for directional light. Grasshopper is available in several colors.

1951: Akari BB3-33S by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra

Akari BB3-33S is a floor lamp that combines different materials: handmade wood, shoji paper, bamboo shaft and a cast iron lamp base. Noguchi's artistic expression is linked to abstract expressionism, and the unique design of the fixture creates an interesting lighting experience. Carrying traditional Japanese influences, the Akari series consists of 100 luminaires and a mix of floor, table and ceiling lamps. Each light sculpture adds an atmosphere of calm and serenity through the soft glow of the shoji paper.

1960: Gatto by the brothers Achille and Pier Castiglioni for Flos

Gatto Grande by Flos is an iconic table lamp designed by Achille and Pier Castiglioni (also known as the "Castiglioni brothers") in 1960. The table lamp has a white metal structure covered with a cocoon-like material that creates an atmospheric light. Its unique material provides a warm glow that highlights the elegant design. Gatto Grande is dimmable, and the brightness can be easily adjusted with the built-in dimmer on the cable.

Place the lamp on its own or complement it with the smaller version Gatto Piccolo.

1962: Arco by the brothers Achille and Pier Castiglioni for Flos

Designed in 1962 by the Castiglioni brothers for Flos, Arco is an iconic floor lamp inspired by street lamps. With a mobile and space-saving design, its arm is almost 2.5 meters long, allowing larger furniture to be placed under it. Made of chromed aluminum, highly polished stainless steel and Carrara marble, Arco is a stable and elegant solution. This design classic, never out of production since its creation, has become one of the most famous in its field and has been seen in famous movies such as The Italian Job and Diamonds Are Forever.

1965: Pipistrello Table Lamp by Gae Aulenti for Martinelli Luce

Pipistrello Table Lamp av Martinelli Luce är en ikonisk lampa och en distinkt del av modern designhistoria, formgiven av den italienske arkitekten Gae Aulenti år 1965. Bordslampans design utmärks av den koniska teleskopiska foten i rostfritt stål och skärmen i vit metakrylat, formad som fyra fladdermusvingar som elegant samlas i mitten med en knopp.

1967: Snoopy av Achille & Pier Castiglioni för Flos

Snoopy, a 1967 design by brothers Achille & Pier Castiglioni for Flos, is an iconic table lamp with a black enameled metal shade and a white marble base. With a simple touch of the dimmable switch, the brightness can be adjusted, allowing for a direct and soft light. Inspired by Snoopy, Snoopy has become a modern classic with its playful and elegant design, suitable for different interior styles.

1970: Topo Floor Lamp by Joe Colombo for Stilnovo

Topo is a fascinating lamp with its design inspiration from the automotive industry. Designed by Joe Colombo in 1970 for Stilnovo, the floor lamp combines a metal body with slits inspired by 1960s sports car valves and a lampshade that reflects the engine casing. The flexible, articulated metal arms allow the lamp to be extended or retracted as desired, creating a dynamic and adaptable design.

1977: Atollo – Opal

Atollo - Opal was designed in 1977 by world-renowned designer Vico Magistretti for Oluce. As the name suggests, the lamp is made of opal glass. With its minimalist design, consisting of three geometric shapes - a cylinder, a cone and a hemisphere - the lamp has established itself as a true design classic.

Only two years after its launch, it was awarded the prestigious Compasso d'Oro award and has been incorporated into the permanent collections of several prominent museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

1979: Funiculí by Lluís Porqueras for Marset

Funiculí - Floor Lamp is a timeless design that combines minimalism with function. Created back in 1979 by Spanish designer Lluís Porqueras, the floor lamp is just as modern today 40 years later. The minimalist lamp is made of lacquered iron with a rotating aluminum shade and is available in five color options.

The name derives from 'funicular', which reflects the adjustable height of the lamp. The series for Marset includes floor, table and wall versions, as well as a model with a textile shade.

1986: Shogun by Mario Botta for Artmeide

Designed in 1986 by Mario Botta for Artemide, the Shogun table lamp has since become a true classic of modern design. The lamp offers a balance of contrasting elements: from the black and white metal stripes on the cylindrical base to the adjustable white shades made of perforated sheet steel. Thanks to the adjustable and perforated lampshades, Shogun can create atmosphere and character in your home - for example, as accent lighting in the hallway or living room.

1997–1998: Zettel'Z by Ingo Maurer

Zettel'Z is a unique ceiling lamp designed by Ingo Maurer from that allows the user to utilize their own creativity. The lamp comes with 80 Japanese DIN A5/- A6 papers, of which 31 are pre-printed and 49 are blank. Use the blank sheets of paper as you wish, write your own messages or sketch your own designs. You can also adjust how close or wide apart you want the sheets of paper to be depending on the light output you want. No two Zettel'Zs need be the same, with its lightweight design and the creativity of its users, Zettel'Z fits into every home and nook and cranny.

1999: Kvist by Jonas Bohlin for Örsjö Belysning

The Kvist 6-arm ceiling light is the result of the first collaboration between Jonas Bohlin and Örsjö Belysning, and has become a modern classic and a signature of the brand. The first edition was launched in 1999 and clearly reflects the keywords that characterize Jonas Bohlin's design: "function, innovation and personality". Twig is inspired by the branches of the birch tree and Jonas Bohlin himself describes it as an aging care tree, inspired by his son and the apple tree he planted at birth. The ceiling lamp is made of copper and solid brass with dimmable and adjustable light units and is available in five different designs.

2010: Heracleum III by Bertjan Pot for Moooi

The Heracleum III pendant lamp, designed by Bertjan Pot, is part of the popular Heracleum series from Moooi which has been an important part of their collection since its first launch in 2010. The beautiful design is created with inspiration from nature and Heracleum III is shaped like a flower sprig, with lots of leaves in the form of small semi-transparent polycarbonate lenses sitting on thin metal branches. The lenses surround the light source, creating an effective play of light in the room.