The Danish designer, Jo (Johannes) Hammerborg, worked as the head designer of Fog & Mørup. Thanks to his hard work, Hammerborg made the company go down in history as one of the vanguards of the time.

With a distinct design philosophy, great insight in elimination technique and a profound understanding of form, function and aesthetics, Hammerborg created his most famous table lamp model, the “President”. The elimination technique is a way to ‘eliminate to innovate’ by identifying key components and eliminate all else, or even one of the key components. These lamps show how successful Hammerborg was with this technique. They possess a look that is fresh and modern, while not giving up on either functionality or pure aesthetic features. The beauty of this pair of stylish lamps lays in the combination of the accent wooden parts, the brass shades and tripod bases. The perforated pattern on the top of the shades lets through the light to create an interesting effect, while the patinated brass stems glow when the lamps are lit. The most outstanding element however is much smaller in scale; the tripod bases stand on teak cuboids that lift the tripods from the ground. The brass legs are embedded into the wood, which is a neat visual point of interest. The teak parts of the stems tie the materials together in a design that is indeed innovative and modern, still fresh to the contemporary eye. 

These lamps cast an atmospheric light and thus contribute to the conviviality of a warm interior but also fit perfectly on an elegant desk. The stringent quality standards Hammerborg introduced to Fog & Mørup’s output is evident, making this pair timeless both visually and quality wise.

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SOLD

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Condition:

The items are in good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The brass has a beautiful patina with some marks and scratches.

Dimensions:

Lamp 1

14.56 in W x 14.37 in D x 17.51 in H

37 cm W x 36.5 cm D x 44.5 cm H

Lamp 2

14.56 in W x 14.56 in D x 17.71 in H

37 cm W x 37 cm D x 45 cm H

Literature:

Bo Bedre 1966, in the advertisement.

About the designer:

Danish lighting designer Johannes (Jo) Hammerborg was born in Randers, Denmark in 1920. Between 1942 and 1944, he trained as a silversmith in Silkeborg and Randers, then went on to study at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

In 1957, Hammerborg became head of design at the Danish lighting company Fog & Mørup. His strong modern design sensibility and strict production requirements made the collaboration between the designer and the manufacturer very successful, both commercially and artistically. During his time at Fog & Morup, Hammerborg designed over 60 lamps, several of which have received international awards. He was a pronounced idea person and entrepreneur, who was a key driving force for the company until his departure in 1980.

In his private life Jo Hammerborg was an active and very versatile athlete who, along with his professional career, was also a pioneer in parachuting and flying. Tragically, it was his great passion for skydiving that cost him his life when, at the age of only 62, he died in an accident. Thanks to his innovative contributions to Danish lamp design, Jo Hammerborg’s coveted lamps remain in high demand in the 21st century. ~H.