A 1930s '1926' lamp shade / pendant light for Taito.
For 4 light bulbs. Shade in gilded brass with an underlying diffuser. The shade diameter 50 cm, height c. 22 cm. The model was produced with either a suspension rod or three suspension chains.
Wear due to age and use. Tarnished. Verdigris. Rust. The fastenings on the lamellae have been repaired. One lamella is partially detached from its fastening. The suspension rod or chains are missing. The plastic diffuser is not original. Electrical function not tested.
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.