Swedish Model G-178 Floor Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson (Sweden, 1960s)

Description:

This is a rare floor lamp, model G-178, designed by Hans-Agne Jakobsson and produced by his own company, Hans-Agne Jakobsson AB, in Markaryd, Sweden, during the 1960s.

The lamp features a sculptural shade composed of five concentric aluminum slats, designed to protect the light source and allow gentle diffusion in all directions. The gently curved, vertically spaced slats give the shade a striking graphic character and contribute to effective light distribution. The lower part of the shade is painted smoke white. The columnar stem and round base are finished in lacquered metal in the same smoke white, creating a clean, minimalist profile that enhances the shade’s optical complexity.

The lamp is in good vintage condition, with light, normal surface wear on the lacquer and aluminum elements. It remains structurally intact and electrically functional.

Design Information:

Designer: Hans-Agne Jakobsson

Design Period: 1960 to 1969

Production Period: 1960 to 1969

Identifying Marks: This piece is attributed to the above-mentioned designer/maker. It has attribution mark.

Style: Vintage

Detailed Condition: Very Good. This vintage item has no defects, but it may show slight traces of use. It remains structurally intact and electrically functional.

Materials: Executed in smoke white lacquered metal and brushed aluminum, the lamp exemplifies the designer’s focus on glare-free, atmospheric lighting combined with an architectonic sensibility.

Colour: Smoke white

Dimensions: 

Height:  Approx. 55.1 inch (140 cm)

Diameter: Approx. 15.7 inch (40 cm)

About the Designer: 

Hans-Agne Jakobsson was a prominent designer between the 1950s and 1970s, during the golden age of Scandinavian design.

Swedish interior decorator and furniture designer Hans-Agne Jakobsson (1919-2009) was born in Havdhem, on the island of Gotland, Sweden, in 1919. He first served an apprenticeship as a carpenter and then continued his education in Gothenburg, where he earned a degree in architecture. He was hired by General Motors as an industrial designer and later worked as an assistant to Carl Malmsten (1888-1972), one of the most prominent figures in Swedish design, and to Werner West (1890-1959).

Jakobsson is remembered for his wonderful, soft-glowing luminaires; he was inspired by the “organic modern” approaches of the lighting masters. Danish designer Poul Henningsen and Finnish icon Alvar Aalto.

Jakobsson created a range of pendant, floor, wall, and table lamps that demonstrate his predilection for a variety of materials and forms, as well as a deep understanding of lighting effects.

In 1951, Jakobsson founded his eponymous furniture-making company, Hans-Agne Jakobsson AB, in Markaryd, southwest of Småland, Sweden, sometimes known as AB Markaryd. While Jakobsson designed and produced various types of furniture, his lighting received greater international acclaim. Experimenting with a wide range of materials, including brass, iron, glass, fabric, and wood shavings, Jakobsson mastered the direction and color of light. His designs are known for their hidden bulbs and stylized ornamentation, which created a diffused, subdued illumination.

Jakobsson’s career was, to say the least, prolific. His company produced more than 2,000 lamps in fifty years. His work includes laminated pine pendant lights, large bulb-shaped crystal chandeliers, all kinds of soft lighting, and even Pop Art-inspired wall lights. Some examples include the Tratten S2064 outdoor lamp (1954), the Estrella V258 wall light (1950s), the Lamingo T325 ceiling light (1950s), his B128 cylindrical pine table lamp (1960s), the BN26 table lamp (1960s), and the Diana V155 wall light (1960).

One of Jakobsson’s best-known designs, often referred to as the Laminated Pine Pendant Lamp, is thought to have been the result of a temporary solution to a glaring light in Jakobsson’s Christmas window display in the mid-1950s. In order to dim the harsh light, he designed a pendant lamp using pine wood shavings, which was soon sought after by his admirers. Jakobsson began producing this design in his own factory in the late 1950s, and it achieved international success.

Jakobsson frequently employed slat or layered structures to modulate light, and the G-178 model is a clear expression of this principle. Produced in his Markaryd workshop, the lamp reflects the high quality and experimental spirit that characterized the company’s production.

SKU: FLa/S/v/J