Paavo Tynell

Galere, West Palm Beach, Florida
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 2014

Finland House Lighting: Harmony in Lighting for Harmony in Living, Original Designs by Paavo Tynell, sales cat., New York, 1955, pp. 12-15 (for related models)
"High Lights of a Lighting Genius," LIFE Magazine, December 12, 1960, p. 57 (for a related model)
Charlotte and Peter Fiell, Scandinavian Design, Cologne, 2002, p. 627 (for a related model)
Charlotte and Peter Fiell, eds., 1000 Lights 1879 to 1959, Vol. 1, Cologne, 2005, p. 397 (for a related model)

Finnish lighting designer Paavo Tynell is known for his innovative and elegant designs, inspired by the culture and traditions of his homeland of Finland. The “Snowflake” chandeliers are amongst his most sought after works. Designed to create a sense of warmth and comfort by utilizing brass and delicate moving parts to reflect light, this effect is reminiscent of straw ornaments the Finnish would hang around their homes during long winters in order to create a warm and whimsical atmosphere. Originally introduced in 1946, the “Snowflake” light came in various iterations. In the present model, a perforated brass bowl shines light up onto the 56 delicate, dangling brass mesh and wire snowflakes to reflect and diffuse light in a dynamic and twinkling manner. Although the light evokes winter and snowfall, it also creates a whimsical and warming effect much like candle light.

Tynell established his own manufacturing company in 1918, and dedicated his practice to creating avant-garde lighting in the highest of quality. In addition to fabricating his own designs, Tynell collaborated with other designers such as Alvar Aalto and Aarne Ervi on custom projects. Through these collaborations, Tynell was able to produce lighting for noteworthy projects such as the Paimio Sanatorium and Viipuri Library. Tynell began designing specifically for the American market in the wake of a growing international interest in Scandinavian design. As early as 1948, his work was showcased at the New York gallery Finland House. Numerous catalogs featured Tynell’s lighting, demonstrating his popularity and firmly establishing him as a frontman of the Scandinavian modern design movement. One catalog states that his lighting designs were the culmination of his “lifelong effort to blend the harmony of lighting with the harmony of living.” 

Tynell believed that good design should be both beautiful and practical, and his work reflected this philosophy. His lamps and chandeliers were designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional, providing the perfect balance of form and function. His “Snowflake” chandeliers, in particular, are considered to be some of the most iconic and beautiful pieces of lighting from the 20th century. The present lot constitutes a grand model, comprising 56 individual snowflakes, making this an opportunity to acquire a rare example of a desirable and important lighting design.