Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'B-142' Table Lamp in Brass

Hans-Agne Jakobsson for Hans-Agne Jakobsson AB in Markaryd, table lamp model B-142, brass, Sweden, 1960s

This model B-142 table lamp by Hans Agne Jakobsson is entirely executed in brass. The slender cylindrical stem rests on a circular base and supports a distinctive shade composed of several layered brass rings. These layers gently filter and reflect the light, creating a rhythmic play of light and shadow and a warm, atmospheric glow.

The Swedish interior and furniture designer Hans-Agne Jakobsson (1919-2009) was born in Hvadhem, a small village located in the province Gotland, Sweden, in 1919. Jakobsson obtained an apprenticeship as a carpenter before completing an architectural study in Gothenburg. He made his entrance as an industrial designer at General Motors and subsequently started assisting furniture designers Carl Malmsten (1888-1972) and Werner West (1890-1959). In 1951, he established his own company ‘Hans-Agne Jakobsson AB’ in Markaryd, Sweden. He worked during the Golden Age of Scandinavian design and his oeuvre ranged from furniture, lighting, and various everyday objects. Jakobsson is best remembered for his softly glowing, glare-free lighting fixtures, which were inspired by the "organic modern" approaches of Danish lighting master Poul Henningsen (1894-1967) and Finnish icon Alvar Aalto (1898-1976). Jakobsson created a diversity of pendants, floor lamps, wall lamps, and table lamps that showcase a penchant for diverse materials and forms, as well as a deep understanding of lighting effects. Throughout his career, Jakobsson carried out commissions for private homes as well as public buildings. In 2009, Hans-Agne Jakobsson passed away in Markaryd, leaving a long-lasting mark in the field of lighting design.