Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) was an industrial designer, Finnish lighting design pioneer and affectionately known as "the man who lit up Finland".Â
The 9209 table lamp is one of his iconic pieces, first produced in 1940 by the historic Finnish publisher Taito. Related to the popular shell-shaped 5321 table lamp, the 9209 table lamp features a spun brass shade that earned it the nickname "Kypärä" (Finnish for helmet).
Held in place by a curved brass arm wrapped in varnished rattan, the hand-formed shade is perforated with triangular decorative motifs - a Tynell signature. While guiding the light downwards, it allows peaks of light to pass through, creating a twinkling evocative of the stars. The base is in cast brass.
Materials Shade in polished brass, base in rattan and brass, golden textile cord
Dimension Ø25,6 x H37 cm, Cord 210 cm
9209 Table lamp
Paavo Tynell
Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) was a Finnish industrial designer specializing in lighting design. Paavo Tynell began his career in Helsinki at the beginning of the 20th century in a Finnish metal art forge company, Tynell qualified as a master craftsman in 1913. At the same time, he studied at Taideteollisuus Keskuskoulu (today the Helsinki University of industrial arts), where he eventually worked as a teacher.
In 1918, Paavo Tynell founded his own company Oy Taito Ab with Gösta Serlachius, Emil Wickström, Eric Ehrström and Frans Nykänen. Taito Oy began to focus more on lamps during the 1930s, with Paavo Tynell as chief designer and CEO.Â
In 1953, the majority of Oy Taito Ab was purchased by another Finnish lighting company, Idman Oy.Tynell continued to draw regularly for Idman until the early 1960s and the company continued to produce the most popular lamp ever designed by Tynell, a square-shaped "starry sky" ceiling lamp, until the late 1970s. Paavo Tynell lived permanently in Tuusula, Finland, where he eventually died in 1973.
