Paavo Tynell

"Snowflake"

Bukowskis presents a rare “snowflake” chandelier by Paavo Tynell at this spring’s Design Sale Helsinki.

Tynell was the first Finnish designer to work solely with lighting. He trained as a sheet metal worker and worked as such until 1918 when he, together with a few others, started Taito Oy. As a designer at Taito Oy and in his own projects, Tynell used his knowledge and metalwork skills to use the material to manipulate the light. He developed new ways of aiming the light to create indirect lighting to achieve a softer, more atmospheric light.

After the war, the feeling of nationalism and the appreciation for Finnish nature and traditions grew stronger, which also showed in Tynell’s designs. He created the first iteration of his “Snowflake” chandelier in 1946. The decorative light was inspired by old chandeliers and the traditional Finnish “himmeli” Christmas decorations. It creates subtle and livening shadows and a shimmering light. It is precisely this play between light and shadow, the high-quality craftsmanship, and the unusual combination of materials that make Paavo Tynell's lamps so popular worldwide.