Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'B-138' Table Lamp in Brass and Silk

Hans-Agne Jakobsson for Hans-Agne Jakobsson AB in Markaryd, Sweden, 'Fringe' table lamp, model 'B-138', brass, silk, Sweden, 1960s

This desk lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson exemplifies the designer’s characteristic ability to merge atmospheric softness with refined material expression. A brass crown suspends a cascading tiers of silk fringe that form a luminous volume. As the light filters through the layered strands, it generates a warm, diffused glow, enhanced by the reflection of the brass stem.

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.