Floor lamp model 2431

Designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn

Sweden, 1950s

This striking floor lamp, designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn and first realized in 1938, is widely known as the “Tre‑spiralen” or today the “San Francisco lamp” after its appearance at the 1939 Golden Gate Exhibition in San Francisco.

The design features a slender lacquered brass stem from which three gently arcing arms hold colored shades — typically in red, green and yellow — each able to be positioned for targeted lighting. The piece unites elegant geometry with the playful spirit of Frank’s approach: functional yet expressive.

With its unmistakable silhouette and rich design provenance, the lamp suits contexts where design heritage is appreciated: gallery settings, refined modern interiors, or collector‑led installations.

This model encapsulates Frank’s design philosophy: rejecting the austerity of functionalist modernism in favour of warmth, colour, and expressive form. The lamp’s three‑spiral arm configuration introduces movement and visual interest, while the use of rich materials such as brass emphasises a sense of quality and craft. Its presentation at the Golden Gate Exhibition gives it further historical significance.