Paavo Tynell
A 1940s '5321' 'The Shell' table lamp for Taito.
Brass shade and base. Interior painted. Height c. 26 cm. Shade dimensions 23 x 22 cm.
Wear due to age and use. Tarnished. Repaired and painted, the rattan is missing from the handle. An electrical component is missing from the switch. Electrical function not tested.
Designer
Paavo Tynell (1890–1973) began his career as an apprentice sheet-metal worker while simultaneously studying at the Central School of Applied Arts, where his skill was recognized early on. In 1918, he founded the company Taito Ltd in Helsinki together with several prominent artists and industrialists.
Taito Ltd’s operations initially included both a forge and a foundry, but after the foundry was closed, the company focused on handcrafted pewter objects during the 1920s and 1930s, as well as lighting fixtures, which became its main product. In 1953, Taito Ltd merged with Idman Ltd, which eventually led to the dissolution of Taito Ltd.
During the 1950s, the company expanded internationally and exported lighting fixtures to the United States, including commissions for Finland House in New York and the United Nations Headquarters.
Today, Paavo Tynell is regarded as one of Finland’s most significant industrial designers.
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