One of the most significant architects in Denmark’s history and a pioneer of Danish functionalism in Scandinavian, mid-century modern furniture, Vilhelm Lauritzen maintained a lifelong belief that design is an art for the people.
Born in the town of Slagelse in 1894, Lauritzen had an early interest in architecture and design. He graduated from the Sorø Akademi in 1912 and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1922. That year, Lauritzen founded the Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects studio.
Travel to Spain, Greece and throughout Central Europe influenced his architectural work. His first major project was in 1928, when he designed the Daell’s Department Store in Copenhagen. Subsequent notable design projects included the Nørrebro Theater in 1931, the Radiohuset building in 1936 and Copenhagen Airport’s first terminal in 1939, inspired by Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier.
Although architecture was among Lauritzen’s chief passions — he was also an avid lepidopterist — he was keenly interested in the furnishings of his projects, designing everything from chairs and settees to door handles and ashtrays. His influential creations include the iconic VL 38 “Radiohus” table and the VL 45 “Radiohus” pendant light — a powerful downward light that provides a gentle illumination through handblown, white opal glass. Both were designed for Danish furniture manufacturer Louis Poulsen in collaboration with Danish designer Finn Juhl. Vilhelm Lauritzen’s lamps and wall sconces, which have obliquely angled lamp heads, were likewise designed in partnership with Poulsen for the Radiohuset building in the 1930s.
Lauritzen remained active in his studio until 1969, overseeing numerous architecture projects in the 1950s, such as the Shellhuset building, Folkets Hus — known today as the VEGA concert hall — and the Danish Embassy in Washington, DC.
Lauritzen died in 1984. His legacy lives on with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects still operating in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district, and his elegant lamps remain in production by Louis Poulsen.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Vilhelm Lauritzen lighting, seating, tables and more.
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL45' Radiohus Portable Table Lamp in Pale Yellow Glass
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL45' Radiohus Portable Table Lamp in Pale Yellow Glass Originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen for the construction of the Radiohuset building in C...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL45' Radiohus Portable Table Lamp in Pale Rose Glass
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL45' Radiohus Portable Table Lamp in Pale Rose Glass Originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen for the construction of the Radiohuset building in Cop...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL38' Black Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL38' Black Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen The 'VL38' was originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen in partnership with Louis Poulsen for the constructi...
Metal, Brass, Aluminum
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Ring Crown' Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Ring Crown' Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen Originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen in partnership with Louis Poulsen for the construction of the Ra...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen, Table Lamps, Chrome, Bakelite, Denmark, 1940s
By Lyfa, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of chrome-plated metal and black bakelite table lamps designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen and produced by Lyfa, Denmark, c. 1940s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 16.0"H x 5.85"W x 9....
Chrome
Rare Table Lamp in nickel-plated metal by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Rare table lamp in nickel-plated metal with funnel-shaped shade and height adjustment. Designed around 1928 by Vilhelm Lauritzen. Made by Fritzsches Glashandel.
Metal
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL45' Radiohus Portable Table Lamp in Opal Glass
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL45' Radiohus Portable Table Lamp in Opal Glass Originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen for the construction of ...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen Flexible Desk Lamp of Brass with Patina by Lyfa Denmark 1940s
By Lyfa, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Vintage desk lamp model B 187 by the Danish architect Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894-1984) manufactured by Lyfa in the 1940s. Vilhelm Lauritzen was one of the greatest designers in Denmar...
Metal, Brass
Rare Adjustable Table Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen and Frits Schlegel
By Fritz Hansen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
FRITS SCHLEGEL & VILHELM LAURITZEN SCANDINAVIAN MODERN Rare, large adjustable table lamp with cone-shaped brass shade by Frits Schlegel and Vilhelm Lauritzen. Mounted with push but...
Brass, Steel
Table Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Table lamp in patinated brass and green fluted handle. Vilhelm Lauritzen / Louis Poulsen.
Brass
1940s Brass Table Lamp By Vilhelm Lauritzen For Fog And Mørup
By Fog & Mørup, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Søborg, DK
A brass modernest table lamp designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Fog & Mørup of Denmark in the 1940s. Standing tall and beautiful on its brass base with a brass on off switch. Bra...
Brass
Small Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Small Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquart...
Aluminum
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquarters of...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL38' White Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL38' White Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen The 'VL38' lamp was originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen in partnership with Louis Poulsen for the cons...
Brass, Steel, Aluminum
Vilhelm Lauritzen table lamp by Louis Poulsen in Denmark
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare table lamp designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen. Produced by Louis Poulsen in Denmark.
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'DSB Konduktør' Desk Lamp in Original Condition, Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Rare piece designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen in the late 1930s or early 1940s. Made for DSB (De Danske Statsbaner, 'The Danish Railway Network'(trans.) hence the name 'Konduktørlampe' ('...
Steel
Scandinavian Modern Patinated Brass Table Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen, LYFA, 1940s
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Odense, DK
Rare table lamp designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen and manufactured by LYFA, Copenhagen in the 1940s. Adjustable head. Burnished and patinated brass with fluted middle piece in green viny...
Metal, Brass
Original vintage Vilhelm Lauritzen VL38 table lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Iconic table lamp designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen and produced by Louis Poulsen in the 1940s. The lamp was designed for the ‘Radiohuset’ in Copenhagen and is called VL38. This is an or...
Brass
"Radio house" Table lamp model 24067 by Wilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen 1930s
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Hägersten, SE
"Radio house" Table lamp model 24067 designed by Wilhelm Lauritzen. Produced by Louis Poulsen in Denmark ca 1930-40s. The model was designed for the Radiohuset (Radio house) building...
Aluminum, Brass, Iron
Scandinavian Modern Chromed Table Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen, 1940s
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Odense, DK
Rare table lamp designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen and manufactured by LYFA, Copenhagen in the 1940s. The lamp is made from chromed metal and the handle is black lacquered wood.
Metal, Chrome
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'Vl38' Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Tilburg, NL
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL38' Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen. Designed in 1930. New, current production. The VL38 table lamp was originally designed in the late 1930...
Metal, Brass
Early Version of Vl38 Table Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Paulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen, Made by Louis Poulsen, Copenhagen. Iron, tubular brass, sheet brass, painted white.
Metal, Brass
Desk Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen "DSB Konduktør" Made at Louis Poulsen, 1940s
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Odense, DK
Functionalist desk lamp designed by Danish Architect Vilhelm Lauritzen in the late 1940s. Made for "DSB" (The Danish Railway Company) hence the name "Konduktørlampe/Train Conductors lamp". Its was manufactured by Louis Poulsen. This example is from the earliest production with the old bakelite...
Metal
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquarters of...
Aluminum
Small Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Small Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquart...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen Table Lamp Produced by Louis Poulsen in Denmark
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare table lamp designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen. Produced by Louis Poulsen in Denmark.
Brass
Large Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquart...
Aluminum
Brass Desk Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in San Francisco, CA
A table lamp of patinated brass, with adjustable and curved neck. Swiveling top and bottom, adjustable in both height and angle. Switch located on the base.
Brass
Pair of Table Lamps in Brass and Vinyl by Vilhelm Lauritzen, 1940's
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Pair of Table Lamps in Brass and Vinyl by Vilhelm Lauritzen, 1940's Additional Information: Material: Brass, vinyl Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by Louis Poulsen in Denm...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'Vl Studio' Floor or Table Lamp in Brass for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Tilburg, NL
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' floor or table lamp in brass for Louis Poulsen. Designed in the 1940s. New, current production. The VL Studio family derives from a lamp designed by ...
Brass
Early 1950's Vl Table Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen, Pair Available
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Utrecht, NL
Early, 1950s edition table lamp by the Danish designer and architect Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894 - 1984), made by Louis Poulsen, Denmark. Organically shaped matt white steel hood on a br...
Brass, Steel
Early Pair '2' of Vl Table Lamps by Vilhelm Lauritzen by Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Utrecht, NL
Set (2) early, 1950's - edition table lamps by the Danish designer and architect Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894 - 1984), made by Louis Poulsen, Denmark. Organically shaped matt white steel ...
Brass
$1,017 / item
Louis Poulsen, Table Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, table lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen Width x Height x Length (mm) 135 x 380 x 175, 2.3 kg Material: Base and shade: aluminium. Stem: brass. Cord length: 3.3 m. Light contro...
Metal
Large Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquart...
Brass
Articulating Desk Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An articulating desk lamp having a brass stem with patina and off-white enameled hood and base.
Brass, Steel