Svend Middelboe (Denmark), late 20th century lighting

Svend Middelboe (1917-2002) was a Danish lighting designer who was active in the late 20th century. He is best known for his simple, elegant designs that often featured geometric shapes and natural materials. Middelboe's work was inspired by the Nordic design aesthetic of simplicity, functionality, and beauty.

Middelboe was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1917. He studied cabinetmaking at the School of Applied Arts in Copenhagen before working as an apprentice to Danish furniture designer Kaare Klint. In 1950, Middelboe founded his own design studio, where he began to design lighting.

Middelboe's early designs were influenced by the work of American lighting designer George Nelson. However, Middelboe quickly developed his own unique style, which was characterized by its simplicity, elegance, and use of natural materials. Middelboe's lighting designs often featured geometric shapes, such as spheres, cubes, and cones. He also used a variety of natural materials, more... such as wood, metal, and glass.

Some of Middelboe's most famous lighting designs include the Boomerang lamp (1955), the Cobra lamp (1963), and the Casablanca lamp (1969). The Boomerang lamp is a simple yet elegant lamp that features a curved metal shade that resembles a boomerang. The Cobra lamp is a table lamp with a distinctive cobra-shaped shade. The Casablanca lamp is a pendant lamp with a large spherical glass shade.

Middelboe's work was exhibited at major design museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He received numerous awards for his work, including the Danish Design Award in 1969 and the Lunning Prize in 1981.

Middelboe's lighting designs are still popular today and are considered classics of Scandinavian design. less...