ARNE JACOBSEN, 1957
Object
The AJ lamp is a design object that combines turned steel and die-cast zinc into a piece of impeccable quality. Designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1956 for his famous SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen, the AJ lamp has stood the test of time, and nearly 70 years after its creation, it remains a highly relevant design object. Its shapes and materials continue to appeal to a wide audience of design enthusiasts and experts, staying on the market thanks to continuous updates in materials and new colors introduced to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary.
Still produced by Louis Poulsen, the AJ table lamp showcases Jacobsen’s talent for both captivating shapes and perfect proportion. It is a delicate object, with a thin steel arm connecting the shade to the base. The base itself has a circular indentation that corresponds to the edge of the shade, providing natural balance to the design. Within the SAS project, the AJ lamp was designed to allow guests to read at night with a directed beam of light that wouldn’t disturb their roommate.
The SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen by Arne Jacobsen
The AJ lamp by Arne Jacobsen was designed in 1956, along with the floor and pendant versions, for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. This project has established itself in design and architecture history as Jacobsen’s total work of art and one of the most important projects of the 1950s. In the SAS Royal Hotel, a project undertaken around the midpoint of his career, Jacobsen had the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the lexicon of buildings where all elements are harmonized, from fixed features to furniture, down to the restaurant cutlery.
When the hotel was inaugurated, every detail had been planned and designed by Jacobsen. Numerous design classics emerged from this project, including the Swan and Egg chairs produced by Fritz Hansen, the famous AJ lamp family by Louis Poulsen, and the set of restaurant cutlery, now produced by Georg Jensen.
THE AJ LAMP: Awards
The AJ lamp family is celebrated as one of Jacobsen’s great modernist design objects and has now acquired the status of an enduring design classic, much like other Jacobsen creations, such as those in the Cylinda series.
Many of Jacobsen’s furnishings and design objects are collected by the most prestigious design museums in the world, such as the Triennale di Milano and the MoMA in New York.
The Pipistrello is collected in numerous design museums around the world, including the MoMA in New York, the Triennale di Milano, the MET, the Centre Pompidou, and many others.
Arne Jacobsen
Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971), a Danish architect and designer, was an icon of modernism. Known for the Ant Chair and the Series 7 Chair, Jacobsen combined functionality with minimalist aesthetics. His architectural works, including the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, have left a significant mark on the history of design.
Louis Poulsen
Louis Poulsen, a Danish company founded in 1874, is a leader in the lighting industry. Known for its focus on light and design, it produces the PH5, the PH Artichoke, the AJ by Arne Jacobsen, and the Panthella by Verner Panton, icons of Scandinavian design.
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Details
Produced by Louis Poulsen
The original version of the AJ table lamp by Arne Jacobsen for Louis Poulsen is available online on Finnishdesignshop.com >
Dimensions of the AJ table lamp:
- Width: 215 mm
- Height: 560 mm
- Shade Length: 350 mm
Dimensions of the AJ Mini table lamp:
- Width: 183 mm
- Height: 435 mm
- Shade Length: 247 mm
Base: die-cast zinc.
Shade: stainless steel
Cord: black plastic with plug, cord length: 2.4 m
Switch: located on the base of the lamp
