Paavo Tynell, a pair of early 1950's wall lights for Taito.
Made to order. Brass shaft. Metal shade with white inner surface and raffia upholstery. Adjustable direction. Total height circa 38 cm. Length of the shade 20 cm. Diameter 9 cm.
Wear due to age and use. Restored. Electrical function not tested.
Paavo Tynell's family.
The wall lights were originally part of the interior furnishing inside KOP (Kansallis Osake Pankki) Lomakylä Otaniemi.
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.