This beautiful wall light is a rare and characteristic work of Finnish glass and metal artist, Gunnel Nyman, one of the founders of modern Finnish glass design. Light has played an important character in Nyman’s glass designs; therefore, it is a rare delight to see how her vision in glassware has translated into furniture design.

This brass wall lamp features a distinctive pierced brass shade and scalloped edge. The style is of the early mid-century that was in many ways, a bridge between Art Déco and Modernism. The frosted glass plate and two light bulbs create a subtle light that is also distributed through the small holes on the shade. Nyman’s design features organic lines and focuses on the characteristics of brass itself. The lamp has an adjustable telescopic arm so that the length of the neck can be adjusted freely. Nyman’s artistic ability to easily connect line and material is especially visible in this unique lamp. While this model is often misattributed to other Finnish designers, the series number belongs to Gunnel Nyman, who at the time created lighting designs for Idman Oy.

This lamp was manufactured by the famous Finnish manufactory Idman Oy, founded in 1897 by Karl Hjalmar Idman. The company was specialising in lighting and worked for some time with Gunnel Nyman, who designed furniture and shades for them in the post-war era. This lamp has Idman’s mark engraved into its stem.

SOLD

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Some scratches and marks on the brass.

Dimensions:

10.9 in ⌀ x 35.43 in W x 23.62 in H

27,7 cm ⌀ x 90 cm W x 60 cm H

About the designer:

Born Gunnel Anita Gustafsson in Turku (September 19, 1909 – October 7, 1948) Gunnel Nyman was a Finnish glass and metal artist, and one of the founders of modern Finnish glass design. She was also a proponent of early mass-produced glassware.

Nyman studied furniture design at the Taideteollinen Korkeakoulu (Central School of the Industrial Arts) in Helsinki, under Arttu Brummer and worked initially in the functionalist style. Trained as a furniture designer, Nyman also created metalwork for ecclesiastical use as well as lighting, most notably for Helsinki's Swedish Theatre, which she designed in collaboration with the Taito Oy AB metalsmiths.

During the post-war era she transitioned to glassware and collaborated or worked on commission with various glassworks including Riihimäki Karhula-Iittala and Nuutajärvi. Nyman collaborated with Nuutajarvi, designing one-of-a-kind works. Nuutajarvi Glassworks has produced artistic glass since 1753, the year of its foundation. But the manufacture of modern glass did not begin until 1942 when Gunnel, one of Finland’s most original artists was employed as a designer for the factory. Together with another famous Finnish designer, Arttu Brummer, she was long responsible for the glass design in Finland.
The quality of light as embodied in glass was a major interest for Nyman. She was also fascinated by the instantaneous solidification of the liquid glass mass. She considered material an essential factor in design, to a point that, in her opinion, each object had only one material that it could be made from. Nyman began designing bubbled glass objects in the early 1930s. Her designs from the late 1940s had small, even-sized bubbles form a beautiful veil on the outer or inner surface of objects.

The most intense period of Nyman’s creativity timed within the two years just prior to her death. Although Gunnel Nyman’s career cut short by an untimely death, she had time enough to give a new direction to Finnish glass design. Her work foreshadowed the work of the 1950s and 1960s Finnish glass designers and remains as an icon of glass design. ~H.