Jo Hammerborg Lighting

Danish, 1920-1982

Johannes (Jo) Hammerborg was a passionate innovator and lighting designer credited with the success of the Danish lighting company Fog & Mørup. His sleek ceiling lights, floor lamps and table lamps are characterized by the simple lines and clean aesthetic of Scandinavian modern design.

Hammerborg was born in Randers, Denmark, in 1920. As a young man, he trained as a silversmith before attending the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. In 1949, Hammerborg began working as a silversmith at leading Danish silverware brand Georg Jensen. He worked at Georg Jensen until 1957, when he became the chief designer at Fog & Mørup.

Hammerborg brought both his modernist designs and his good business sense to Fog & Mørup. He helped the company create a strong brand and implemented a stringent manufacturing process to ensure high quality. During his time with Fog & Mørup, Hammerborg designed over 60 lighting fixtures and collaborated with other designers such as Torsten Thorup and Claus Bonderup, Erik Balslev, Sophus Frandsen and more. Vintage Hammerborg lighting is functional and accessible and was intended for easy coordination with modern interior decor.

Among Hammerborg's most famous works are his 1966 Trombone series. Trombone pendants, floor lamps and table lamps feature cylindrical shades in various metallic finishes and are fantastically versatile. The Milieu pendant from 1975 is another notable Hammerborg design. Its hemispherical shape gives the shade a light and airy quality, and Hammerborg's love of parachuting inspired its distinctive appearance.

Hammerborg left Fog & Mørup in 1980. The company subsequently underwent a series of mergers that eventually led to its closure.

Hammerborg’s brilliant lighting creations remain in high demand today. The Hammerborg family has collaborated with Danish furniture brand Warm Nordic — which has reissued iconic mid-century works such as Hans Olsen’s inviting Fried Egg armchair — in order to relaunch the Trombone and Milieu series.

On 1stDibs, find an extensive collection of vintage Jo Hammerborg lighting.

Jo Hammerborg lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Jo Hammerborg lighting are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Jo Hammerborg lighting, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 165 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 8 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original lighting by Jo Hammerborg were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider lighting by Arne Jacobsen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, and Fog & Mørup. Prices for Jo Hammerborg lighting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $160 and can go as high as $11,860, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,200.