CONTEMPORARY LIGHTING
[from Louis Poulsen & Co. of Denmark]
Svend Wohlert Inc.
Svend Wohlert Inc.: CONTEMPORARY LIGHTING [from Louis Poulsen & Co. of Denmark]. San Francisco: Svend Wohlert, Inc. [1962]. Original edition. Slim quarto Printed stapled wrappers. 32 pp. Black and white photographs and lighting fixture specifications. 4-page single fold price list [September 1, 1962] laid in. Offsetting to blank rear panel, otherwise a nearly fine copy.
8.5 x 11 softcover Lighting catalog with 32 pages of Louis Poulsen Danish Light Fixtures imported by Svend Wohlert of San Francisco. All fixtures identified by designer, with dimensions and finishes.
- Pendants: Jean Fehmerling, Arne Jacobsen, John Meiling, Borge Hvidkjaer, Paul Gernes, Svend Aage Petersen, Alvar Aalto, Vilhelm Lauritzen, Vilhelm Wohlert, Jorgen Bo, Poul Henningsen, and Per Iversen.
- Ceiling Mounted Fixtures: Vilhelm Lauritzen, Arne Jacobsen, and Per Iversen.
- Wall Brackets: Vilhelm Lauritzen, Ersgaard Olsen, Finn Monies, Arne Jacobsen, And Halldor Gunnlögsson.
- Lamps: Arne Jacobsen and Per Iversen.
- Multiple Units
- Parts
- Index
“Once you have experienced good lighting, life is filled with new values.” — Poul Henningsen
Arne Jacobsen (1902 – 1971) was born and raised in Copenhagen. In 1927, he graduated as an architect from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. After graduating, he obtained his first job at the office of the City Architect of Copenhagen launching his own office only two years later. Arne Jacobsen is a world famous Danish modernistic architect. His buildings are numerous in Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Poul Henningsen (1894 – 1967) was born in Copenhagen by the famous Danish actress Agnes Henningsen. He never graduated as an architect, but studied at The Technical School at Frederiksberg, Denmark from 1911-14, and then at Technical College in Copenhagen from 1914-17. He started practicing traditional functionalistic architecture, but over the years his professional interests changed to focus mainly on lighting which is what he is most famous for.
Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894 – 1984) is one of the most significant architects in the history of Denmark; he was the trail-blazing figurehead of Danish functionalism. A number of his buildings – Nørrebro Theatre (1931–32), Daells Varehus department store (1928–35), Radiohuset (1936-41) and the first airport built in Kastrup (1937–39) – represented the concentrated essence of contemporary life. Other significant buildings to stem from Lauritzen’s drawing board include Folkets Hus (1953–56) better known today as the Vega concert venue, the Shellhuset (1950–51) building and the Danish embassy in Washington (1958–60). In particular the Radiohuset building and the earliest version of Kastrup Airport – both listed today – are considered peerless monuments to modernism in the European genre of construction.
Vilhelm Wohlert (1920 – 2007) graduated as an architect from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen in 1944. During his career, he held the position of professor at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen from 1968 until 1986, was an Honorary Member of the same institution, where he was also Deputy CEO in the period 1968–71. He was also awarded the post of visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, United States, from 1951 through 1953.
In 1954 the four Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland arranged what proved to be the most important marketing effort ever for Scandinavian design—the monumental exhibition Design in Scandinavia. From 1954 to 1957 Design in Scandinavia toured the United States and Canada. The exhibition was presented in 27 cities, and it was a huge success, initiated by The Danish Society of Arts and Crafts and its sister organizations in the other participating countries.
Based on the success the four countries established what they called the Scandinavian Design Cavalcade, which had a lot of US press coverage as well. In that connection the July 1959 issue of House Beautiful was centered around The Scandinavian Look in U.S. Homes, and it was Denmark and Danish Design in particular that the magazine focussed on. Besides the editorial pages, the numerous ads illustrates that Danish modern furniture was increasingly gaining a stronghold among certain groups of American consumers.
Importers and retail chains like John Stuart Inc., George Tanier, Raynor and Dunbar etc. now sold Danish modern furniture in the US, and by now it was not only hand crafted furniture from the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibitions but also pieces from industrial furniture producers like Fritz Hansen, Søborg Møbelfabrik, Fredericia Furniture and many others. From the end of the 1950s Danish Department stores and other retailers produced comprehensive brochures and booklets in English with prices in US Dollars presenting Danish Design to American and other tourists.
Without exception, these stores all presented the narrative of Danish modern. “Denmark is known all over the world for its exquisite home furnishing, which are characterized by their outstanding design and superb craftsmanship” the department store Magasin claimed in its brochure “Danish Design.”