Paavo Tynell was an industrial designer, known as the great pioneer of Finnish lighting design and fondly dubbed “the man who illuminated Finland.” Tynell was one of the founders and chief designers of Taito Oy — the first industrial producer of lamps and other lighting fixtures in Finland. With the innovation of electricity in the beginning of the 20th century, Taito Oy and Tynell expanded the thinking and manufacturing of modern lighting solutions in Europe and abroad.
Tynell rose to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s, during which he collaborated with some of the most renowned Finnish architects, Alvar Aalto being the most notable one. Working to incorporate artificial lighting into modern environments, Tynell’s company Taito Oy produced fixtures for all of Aalto’s major projects including the Paimio Sanatorium and the Viipuri Library.
Tynell was especially praised for his involvement with the Finland House, a design atelier in New York that showcased the work of Finnish designers and craftspeople. His elegant brass designs became an instant success in North America, and he began creating lighting designs for the prestigious American company Lightolier.
A master craftsman, Tynell’s designs were derivative of a traditional aesthetic with a modern sensibility, mixed with an extensive use of perforated and polished brass. Marked by delicacy and softness, his most famous forms in lighting echo the structures of nature; he adroitly created sculptural shapes reminiscent of the branches of trees, swirling snowflakes and seashells.
Find antique Paavo Tynell chandeliers and pendants, floor lamps and other lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Side Gallery)
Paavo Tynell model 5068 for Taito circa 1940, Brass & wood straw.
By Paavo Tynell
Located in Hägersten-Liljeholmen, Stockholms län
Paavo Tynell table lamp model 5068 made by Taito Oy, The lamp is made in solid brass with a wood handel and a wood straw shade. Good original condition, the lamp is stamp by the edit...
Brass
$1,999 / item
H 60 in Dm 24.8 in
Paavo Tynell Model '9602' Brass and Rattan Floor Lamp with Wicker Shade for GUBI
By Gubi, Paavo Tynell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paavo Tynell Model '9602' Brass and Rattan Floor Lamp with Wicker Shade for GUBI Originally designed by Paavo Tynell in 1935 and characterized by its elegant, airy lampshade balance...
Brass
Paavo Tynell model 1082, rattan shade, circa 1960.
By Paavo Tynell
Located in Hägersten-Liljeholmen, Stockholms län
Pendant model 1082 designed bu Paavo Tynell for Idman, the lamp is composed by a Opal glass with a brass decoration and its orginal rattan shade. The lamp is in good condition overha...
Brass
Paavo Tynell '1972' Bamboo Pendant Lamp for GUBI
By Gubi, Paavo Tynell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paavo Tynell '1972' Bamboo Pendant for GUBI. Originally designed by Paavo Tynell, encompassing several variations of a classic 1950s Tynell design, this family of classic pendants e...
Brass
Paavo Tynell 1972 Pendant Bamboo Shade Ø60 cm for GUBI
By Gubi, Paavo Tynell
Located in New York, NY
Designed by the legendary Paavo Tynell, the 1972 pendant features a conical shade in bamboo, crafted by master artisans. The the bamboo slats are hand sewn into a pleated mat and fas...
Brass
Paavo Tynell 'Model 5321' Brass and Rattan Table Lamp
By Paavo Tynell, Gubi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paavo Tynell 'Model 5321' Brass and Rattan Table Lamp Originally designed by Paavo Tynell in 1938, this authorized GUBI re-edition is exec...
Brass, Metal
$623Sale Price|36% Off
H 15.75 in Dm 9.06 in
Swedish Brass Table Lamp with Rattan Shade by EWÅ Värnamo, 1960s
By Ewå Värnamo
Located in Karis, Nyland
This charming Swedish brass table lamp was produced by EWÅ Värnamo in the 1960s and exemplifies the era’s warm, natural material palette and Scandinavian modernist sensibility. The s...
Brass
$6,626 / item
H 34.65 in W 22.45 in D 9.45 in
Paavo Tynell, for Idman model 51096, iron, brass and wooden shade. circa 1940
By Paavo Tynell
Located in Hägersten-Liljeholmen, Stockholms län
Rare pair of Paavo Tynell model 51096 for Idman made in laquered iron and brass with a wooden shade. The lamp is availbable either as a pair or by piece. Price per piece. The lamp is...
Brass, Iron
Ceiling Lamp in Brass and Rattan, Sweden, Mid-20th Century
By Paavo Tynell
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Ceiling lamp of unknown designer and manufacturer, produced in Sweden during the mid-20th century. Made from brass with a handwoven rattan shade lined with white fabric, creating a s...
Brass
Paavo Tynell Model 9208 Brass and Rattan Table Lamp for Taito Oy
By Paavo Tynell, Taito Oy
Located in New York, NY
Table lamp model 9208 by Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy, Finland, 1940s. A rare and highly sought-after model 9208 table lamp by Paavo Tynell, produced by Taito Oy, Finland, circa 1940s....
Brass
Paavo Tynell Table Lamp Model 5068 in Brass, Birch and Rattan, Taito 1950s
By Taito Oy, Paavo Tynell
Located in Helsinki, FI
Paavo Tynell table lamp model 5068, manufactured by Taito Oy in the 1950s, excellent condition. This is a rare version with a slotted brass leg that hold a birch piece as a handle wh...
Rattan
Mauri Almari Table Lamp Model 61054 in Brass & Rattan, Idman, 1950s
By Idman Oy, Mauri Almari
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful and delicate brass table lamp designed by Mauri Almari and manufactured by Idman in the 1950s in Finland. Despite the small size of this lamp the combination of brass &am...
Brass
Paavo Tynell Table Lamp Model 5068, Brass, Wood & Rattan, Taito 1950s
By Taito Oy, Paavo Tynell
Located in Helsinki, FI
A Paavo Tynell table lamp model 5068, manufactured by Taito Oy in the 1950s. The lamp is in excellent condition. One of the more rarely seen Tynell table lamp models. Please see our ...
Brass, Metal
A Paavo Tynell Perforated Brass and Rattan Table Lamp 9208, Taito 1940s
By Paavo Tynell, Taito Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
Affectionately known by a few charming nicknames—the "Cow Bell," "Church Bell," "Hat Lamp," or even "Snufkin" after the beloved Tove Jansson character—this iconic Paavo Tynell table ...
Brass
Paavo Tynell Ceiling Lamp in Rattan, Brass, & Glass Model K3-262, Idman 1960s
By Paavo Tynell, Idman
Located in Helsinki, FI
A lively and elegant pendant lamp designed by Paavo Tynell, featuring a softly shaped opaline glass diffuser paired with a delicate wooden shade and refined brass details and canopy....
Metal, Brass
Rare Paavo Tynell 'S' Table Lamp 9202 in Full Brass & Rattan Shade, Taito 1940s
By Taito, Paavo Tynell
Located in Helsinki, FI
An unbelievably beautiful table lamp by the master of lightings design Paavo Tynell. This lamp is not only sleek, and very different than the other standard Tynell table lamps, it is...
Brass, Metal
