Pair of wall lights model 2389

Designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn

Sweden, 1950s

Josef Frank’s Model 2389 wall lamp, designed in the 1950s for Svenskt Tenn, exemplifies his refined approach to functional elegance and modernist form. Crafted entirely from polished brass, the lamp features a gently curved arm supporting a wide, flared shade. In terms of lighting specifically, Frank viewed light not just as a functional necessity but as a central element in shaping mood and atmosphere.

He preferred indirect light, often using shades, reflectors, and diffused materials to soften glare and create a gentle ambience. This is evident in designs like wall lamp Model 2389, where the flared brass shade casts light both upward and downward, enhancing the interplay of shadows and reflections without being harsh or clinical.

Josef Frank (1885–1967) was an Austrian-Swedish architect and designer who became a central figure in 20th-century Scandinavian design. After moving to Sweden in the 1930s, he began a long collaboration with Svenskt Tenn, creating furniture, textiles, and lighting that remain iconic today.