Paavo Tynell, a pair of 1930/1940's wall lights for Taito.
Nickel-plated brass, opal white glass shade. Total height 29 cm. Depth about 19 cm. The diameter of the shade 14 cm.
Wear due to age and use. Tarnished. Marks due to the manufacturing process on the inner edges of the shades. Electrical function not tested.
Probably made to order. Similar wall lamps are also found in the Finnish Parliament House.
Similar wall lamps were in the Tiuruniemi Sanatorium which was completed in 1940.
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.