Designed in 1955 the Maija Mehiläinen (Maya the bee) table lamp is a deliciously simple and elegant piece. Tapiovaara's inspiration for his only household lamp came from Maya the Bee, a friendly character from a 1912 German children’s book, that also was the basis to the widely acclaimed comic strips and translated as Maija in Finland.

In his clear and simple design style Tapiovaara created a column of small metal superimposed discs from which the light glows as if coming from a shimmering beehive. Manufactured by Asko/Hienoteräs, Finland.

Interior impressed with ‘HIENOTERAS’.

About the designer:

Ilmari Tapiovaara graduated in 1937 as interior architect from the department of furniture design of the Central School of Arts and Crafts. Even before graduating, Tapiovaara went abroad to work for Alvar Aalto in Artek's London office in 1935. Right after completing his education Tapiovaara got a position of assistant at the office of Le Corbusier, in France. These were not the only times he learned from international masters; he also worked with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in Chicago, in 1953. Read more about Ilmari Tapiovaara.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use.

Dimensions:

7.49 in. Ø x 19.69 in. H

19 cm Ø x 50 cm H

Origin:

Finland, 1955

Literature:

- Pekka Korvenmaa, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Salamanca, 1997, front cover and p. 415, figs. 407-408, and p. 195, fig. 471