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Design Steen Jorgensen 1947
Manufacture
This geometrically constructed lamp is the work of the magician of light, Steen Jorgensen. After painstaking experiments, the designer came up with this system of concentric discs which reflect the light, giving maximum performance and modulating the intensity of the light.
The Steen recalls the work of Poul Henningsen in the 1950s, especially his famous Artichoke. Steen proposed a lamp which would diffuse the light and meet all the lighting requirements of a room. To do this, he tried to control the intensity of light projected downwards by all hanging lamps so as not to dominate the field of vision, while at the same time harnessing the oblique lateral light to allow reading and other activities without needing to sit directly below the lamp.
With the aim of also illuminating the surrounding side areas normally ignored by lamp designers he sought a high degree of horizontal lighting. Working on the premise that harmonious illumination is obtained by harmonious treatment of light rays, Jorgensen designed a system of concentric shades which all bear the same relationship to the light source.
As the source of light he chose a retrolux bulb mirrored at the lower part. Light radiating from the bulb is divided into equal angles, the beams strike each of the disc at the same angle. In order for the lamp to project the light as openly and amply as possible, fairly wide angles were chosen. The wider the angle at which the light hits the panel the greater the light generated.
This was how the designer conceived the larger diameter concentric discs, but there was still another detail to be resolved: a visible bulb would lead to unacceptable dazzle for anyone who looked at it directly. To overcome this, J?rgensen decided to incorporate a series of secondary shades or discs that are smaller in diameter and placed between the larger discs in order to block the excessive brightness of the bulb, control the light given off by the main discs and soften the projection of light from the centre of the lamp outwards to the surrounding area. The concentric discs give this lamp an air of visual and thermal lightness (repeated reflection is avoided).
J?rgensens design was an exercise in technical mastery. Despite the fact that the bulb is entirely surrounded by screens, the performance and light distribution achieved by the Steen 9 and 13 are truly extraordinary.
Dimensions Shade Height 21/37cm, Diameter 47cm
Lamp Type Max. 60W 230V E27