Pendant light RA 40 by Piet Hein for Lyfa. Denmark 1960s

Piet hein's interest in form and function is evident in the ra ceiling light which first went into production in 1939, the design of which ensures a soft diffused light without glare. In 1969 lyfa updated the ra's colourways to include bright red, yellow and orange versions, including this red example with a diameter of 40 cm and a height of 24 cm. Good vintage condition with some marks and scratches. At some point in time the top of the shade has been spray painted in order to cover some damage to the original lacquer. It is not immediately evident when the light is viewed but if you look closer from above you can clearly see it. I have tried to show it in one photo. The price is naturally adjusted for this defect. Philosopher, poet, mathematician and designer piet hein is perhaps best known today for his invention of the superelipse, an oval shape originally conceived to solve copenhagen's traffic congestion but later applied to a range of design problems including the famous superelipse table which maximises the number of people who can be seated at it. Based in the copenhagen suburb of ballerup, lyfa began life in the early years of the 20th century as københavns lampe og lysekronefabrik, abbreviating its name to lyfa in the 1930s, at which time its main output was a range of table lamps closely modelled on the revolutionary multi-shade lamp that poul henningsen had designed in 1924 for louis poulsen. But by the 1950s lyfa had become an innovator in its own right, commissioning prominent designers to produce high-quality and original lighting which took advantage of new technologies and materials.

Ref. : UUEE8BFW