"GA9" Wall Light by Erik Gunnar Asplund for ASEA, Sweden 1940s (sold)

"GA9" Wall Light by Erik Gunnar Asplund for ASEA, Sweden 1940s (sold)

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“GA9” appears to be inspired by a droplet, floating upward the wall. The mouth blown glass with bubbles creates an intricate play between light and shadow, giving the appearance of light travelling through water.

Swedish architect and designer, Erik Gunnar Asplund, is celebrated as the godfather of functionalist design in Sweden. Like his celebrated Stockholm City Library, this lamp emphasizes geometric simplicity and clarity of form. The construction of this model is ingenious, with a bent arm holding the glass in place, with yet another arm holding the light source in the centre of the luminaire. The black lacquered metal bends organically into sinuous forms, while the backplate has a polygon shape. Pairing the geometric elements with the more organic one shows Asplund’s great eye for design that was ahead of his time. The large, mushroom-like mouth blown glass shades have distinctive “drops” on their surface, creating a beautiful effect that becomes even more apparent when the light is on. The atmospheric light it creates is not measurable, nor is it functional in the traditional sense. It is easily forgotten, but nevertheless important when creating a space of wellbeing. It is the most basic and fundamental of all lighting principles, one that has been with us since the dawn of time. Asplund’s life and work served as inspiration to a number of Scandinavian design luminaries, such as lifelong friend and mentee Alvar Aalto, as well as Erik Bryggman and Arne Jacobsen.

An acronym for Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (“General Swedish Electrical Limited Company”), ASEA was a Swedish manufacturer of electrical products and industrial infrastructure. The company endures in the hearts of design lovers for their mid-century interior lighting collections produced in collaboration with venerated designers like Gunnar Asplund.