FAMOUS LAMPS
At Lampmasters.ie we have a wealth of world-renowned, iconic and classic designs from around the globe that have survived the test of time, achieved cult status and continue to have a place in all kinds of homes across the globe - but how do they become so well known and loved across generations and national borders? Of course, extraordinary design, exceptional craftsmanship and exquisite materials speak for themselves - but today we have completely different opportunities to spread the word about a unique design. Audiovisual media has very much entered the 21st century, with the entertainment industry in particular creating more content than ever before, so that week after week we engage with ordinary people who can sing, draw, bake, design furniture and much more. A program like DR1's Denmark's Next Classic has become a huge hit, giving people an insight into how five amazing furniture designers attempt to create a classic that has the potential to become a worldwide success - and it's the designs from this popular program that you'll learn about in this article!
MOONSETTER - ANNE BOYESEN
In addition to winning 'Denmark's Next Classic' in 2020, the sculptural Moonsetter lamp was awarded a Design Award for 'Lamp of the Year' in 2021. Moonsetter is more than just a beautiful floor lamp. It acts as a luminous sculpture that takes over the room and adds a stylish and elegant look. The simple yet exceptional lamp in chrome-plated aluminum has a rotating disc that reflects the light from the built-in LED light source. The disc can be rotated 360° around its own axis and has two different finishes on the sides. The white side emits a soft and diffused light into the room, while the chrome side reflects the light panels and gives a completely different look.\ That Moonsetter is a born classic is evident from the fact that Louis Poulsen itself has agreed to collaborate with Boysen in the production of the beautiful lamp. Initially, 100 copies of Moonsetter were released in Danish stores from October 2021, after which another limited series of 100 lamps, also with their own serial number, followed. Only then was the Moonsetter put into actual mass production.
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MUSLING PENDANT - AHM&LUND
The stylish Musling pendant took first place in the 'Lamps' category. After the program, Ahm. & Lund, the designers behind the lamp, initiated a collaboration with Fritz Hansen, who have chosen to put the beautiful pendant into production.
The lamp excited the judges; "It's like you've seen it before, but you haven't. First of all, you're struck by how beautifully it's made, and then the fact that it can do something - it can be adjusted - you can change your light spread a little, and that's really good thinking." They agreed that the lamp was incredibly convincing; "In many ways it's an incredibly well-made lamp, really well finished and a great idea, so we were really excited about that too."
In terms of form, the designers let the light guide how the lamp should be designed. This has resulted in some exciting references to classic design, while at the same time the lamp is completely unique. The design of the lamp is inspired by shells in nature and hides a gem inside: light! When closed, the clamshell provides a generally pleasant light 360 degrees into the room. When the clamshell is opened slightly, it creates a cone of light above the dining table without glare.
CALEO PENDANT - RIKKE FROST
'Denmark's Next Classic' is the program where five talented designers compete in six different design categories. The armchair, sofa and, not least, the lamp were interpreted, and within each category a winner was chosen. One of the tasks was to create a beautiful lamp to hang above the dining table. Denmark already has world-famous lamps from PH, Le Klint and Verner Panton, so there were some big shoes to fill. Despite the level of difficulty, the level was high and Rikke Frost took a great second place for her Caleo Pendant.
Her lamp has the potential to become a true classic - a reinterpretation of the lampshade. It is named 'Caleo', which is the Latin word for 'highlight' and refers to the brown outlines created by hand that emphasize the lamp's pleats. The judges were very enthusiastic about the pendant, describing it as "Insanely beautiful. Very nice with the pleats and the way you've lined them up so you can better see where they break. And when it's lit, it really comes into its own. It's really convincing". Despite the short time to complete the task, Rikke managed to create an innovative lamp that at the same time contains Le Klint's well-known elements.
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PATRONE PENDANT - THORUP COPENHAGEN
In addition to the program's first and second place, participant Kasper Thorup has also had success in lighting. But not with his classic from the program, where he also showed some flair in lamp design.
In 2017, Kasper established his own furniture brand under the name Thorup Copenhagen. With a consistently stylish expression, based on raw materials and a minimalist mindset, he creates furniture with a bold perspective on Scandinavian design. In 2019, he has expanded his collection with the stylish and simple Patrone. The cylindrical pendant offers a minimalist expression with an industrial look and a focus on functionality.
The narrow design allows you to hang the pendant in small corners of the house - individually or in a cluster at different heights to achieve a beautiful aesthetic expression. The pendants are available in both black and brass, which easily fits in with current trends.
What is a design classic?
In Denmark, we are known for our design heritage, which includes countless classics. The term 'classic' is widely used when it comes to design, furniture and interiors, but the concept is unique to the program 'Denmark's Next Classic'. If you look it up in the Danish Dictionary, a classic is defined as an "artistic or craftsmanship creation that is considered to be of high and lasting quality or to be a typical representative of a particular genre or style." No one can know when a piece of furniture, lamp, etc. is designed and produced whether it will become a classic. But by using timeless elements and combining them with something contemporary, you can create something that might become a classic - only time will tell if you got it right.
One of the best and most obvious examples of a classic is Poul Henningsen's PH lamp. Although the design is almost 100 years old, the distinctive screens are more popular today than ever before, continuing to grace countless homes around the world. When talking about lighting classics, Verner Panton's Flowerpot lamp is definitely worth a mention. The lamp is inspired by the flower power revolution of the 60s and 70s and is today produced by &tradition. With its two circular shades facing each other, the Flowerpot lamp has long since proven its worth as a classic that fits just as well in today's modern interior design as the colorful happy 60s and 70s.
We focus on quality and durability in many different parameters; craftsmanship, material and not least design. For a product to become a classic, you need to be able to keep looking at it for a long time. Quality must therefore be top notch if a product is to have the potential to become Denmark's next classic.