Vintage Hans-Agne Jakobsson Elidus Desk Lamp Markaryd Sweden White Aluminium . Swedish Mid Century Modern Adjustable Light

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Description

Rare mid-century modern desk lamp designed by Swedish lighting master Hans-Agne Jakobsson, produced by Markaryd in the 1960s. This Elidus … Read more Rare mid-century modern desk lamp designed by Swedish lighting master Hans-Agne Jakobsson, produced by Markaryd in the 1960s. This Elidus model features a lacquered brown aluminum dome shade and a signature plastic louvered diffuser that creates soft, functional light with a futuristic sculptural look. The neck is chrome and fully flexible, allowing for adjustable angles, while the switch is integrated into the weighted base – a practical and elegant detail. A true Scandinavian modernist icon in both form and function.

Design & Designer:
Hans-Agne Jakobsson (1919–2009) was one of Sweden’s most prolific and stylistically distinct lighting designers of the mid-20th century. Initially trained as a cabinetmaker, Jakobsson later studied architecture in Gothenburg before moving into lighting design. He worked for General Motors and then as an assistant to Carl Malmsten, whose emphasis on craftsmanship and natural materials had a lasting influence on Jakobsson’s philosophy.

In 1951, he founded his own company in the small town of Markaryd, Sweden – Hans-Agne Jakobsson AB – and quickly gained an international reputation for atmospheric, diffused light fixtures that defied the glare of post-war functionalism. Jakobsson rejected harsh overhead light in favor of warm, filtered glow, often using layered shades, slatted wood, and clever plastic diffusers. His signature style is characterized by sculptural silhouettes and moody, intimate lighting effects, perfectly in line with the Scandinavian ethos of hygge and material tactility.

He created over 2,000 lighting designs over his long career – from small table lamps to monumental public lighting. His most iconic works include the laminated pinewood pendants and the softly glowing brass chandeliers, but the Elidus series stands out as his foray into futuristic, functionalist work with bold, almost space-age appeal.

About the Elidus Lamp:
The Elidus series was a line of adjustable desk and task lamps designed with both home and office use in mind. Unlike Jakobsson’s more atmospheric wood or fabric pieces, Elidus embraced modern materials like metal, lacquer, and plastic. The distinct louvered plastic diffuser ring seen on this lamp softens light without compromising visibility – a technical design feature that set the Elidus apart.

These lamps were often produced in earth-tone colors like this deep chocolate brown, but also came in white, mustard, and ochre tones. The base and lamp head are both highly functional – the flexible neck allows for easy adjustment, and the base switch makes it user-friendly.

About Markaryd:
The town of Markaryd in southern Sweden became synonymous with quality lighting thanks to Jakobsson’s company, which operated under several variations of the Hans-Agne Jakobsson name from the 1950s into the 1980s. Markaryd was home to both production and design, and lamps were sold globally – including through retailers like Nordiska Kompaniet, Illums Bolighus, and high-end department stores in Germany, the UK, and the US. Jakobsson's influence helped establish Sweden’s reputation as a leader in modernist lighting during the post-war period. See less