Paavo Tynell (1890–1973) is one of the most significant names in Finnish lighting design, and his work has had a major influence on modern lighting design at an international level, too.
Tynell studied at the Central School of Applied Arts in Helsinki and later taught there. He was one of the founders of the art forge Oy Taito Ab, which began operating in 1918 and where he served as director and chief designer until 1953. In 2018, the Danish design manufacturer GUBI brought a collection of Tynell’s lamps into production.
Paavo Tynell – a master of Finnish lighting design
Paavo Tynell (1890–1973) was a Finnish designer and lamp manufacturer regarded as one of the central reformers of Finnish lighting design. He was born in Helsinki and trained in metalwork, which laid a strong foundation for a career in lighting design. Tynell was one of the founders of Oy Taito Ab, which began operating in 1918 and rose to become Finland’s leading lamp manufacturer in the early 20th century.
In the 1930s and 40s, Tynell was among the most commissioned designers of lighting for public spaces in Finland: he designed lamps for the Lasipalatsi in Helsinki, the Parliament House and the office of the UN Secretary-General, among others.
Simple and decorative
Tynell’s design language was characterised by a blend of pared-back and decorative styles, and by encounters between sculptural elements and nature-inspired forms – many of the lamps he designed feature details drawn from nature, such as leaves, flowers and other organic shapes.
Among his best-known works are various brass lamps – the surfaces of many of his lamp models are decorated with perforated patterns through which the light is softly filtered.
A collector’s favourite
Tynell worked for a long time in collaboration with Alvar Aalto and designed lamps for the Paimio Sanatorium, the Savoy restaurant and the Vyborg Library, among others. He also found success in the United States, where his clients included private homes, lamp manufacturers and the New York-based Finland House, which showcased the Finnish design of its day to international audiences.
Although Tynell’s work was for a long time known mainly among design experts, in the 2000s his work has undergone a strong international re-appreciation. The original lamps are now sought-after collector’s items, and the Danish GUBI has brought several classic Tynell lamps into production.
Who: Paavo Tynell
- Finnish lighting designer and designer (1890–1973).
- A founding member of the lamp manufacturer Oy Taito Ab.
- Best known for his perforated brass lamps and his decorative lamps featuring nature motifs.
- Designed lamps for the Parliament House, the Lasipalatsi and the office of the UN Secretary-General, among others.
- Notable works: the 5321 table lamp, the 9602 floor lamp and the 1965 pendant lamp, now manufactured by GUBI.
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