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1903 - 1930

Building on proud traditions

LYFA was founded in 1903 and initially named Kjøbenhavns Lampe- og Lysekronefabrik (Copenhagen Lamp and Chandelier Factory) with KLLF as the abbreviated version. At the beginning of the 1930s, the name was changed to LYFA. Taking the LY from 'Lysekrone' and the FA from '-fabrik' as a homage to the origin of the business and how it all began.

1930

The iconic sun boat logo

LYFA is known for its use of the symbolic sun boat visualised in the logo. The sun boat is an immemorial Nordic symbol and rock engravings that origin all the way back to the early Bronze age - chosen as a metaphor to state that LYFA brings light to Danish homes.

The new LYFA logo pays homage to the former logo by reusing the glowing sun behind the sun boat in a new and contemporary manner. The sun boat logo symbolizes the orbit of the sun across the sky and when shining down upon LYFA, dark shadows appear and form the outlines of the four letters.

Better light with LYFA

Since 1903, one of the founding principles of LYFA has been to create lighting designs for all occasions and to be the light in the daily life (‘Lyspunkter i tilværelsen’). During the life span of LYFA, the entire corporation has revolved around the concept of designing the good light in all its facets and shapes. Today, we have termed it 'Lightscapes' but the purpose and fundamental concepts remain the same. LYFA crafts and explores lighting designs that build on decades of proud traditions within Danish design.

1930 - 1950

Innovative lighting and prominent designers

LYFA has since the 1930s won multiple international design awards for their spectacular lamps such as the Gold Medal at the World Fair 1929 in Barcelona and once again in 1935 in Brussels for the RA pendant. LYFA became famous for producing high-quality lighting, which took advantage of new technologies and materials. By the 1950s, LYFA had become an important and significant innovator working with prominent Danish architects and designers such as Piet Hein, Finn Juhl and Bent Karlby.

Bent Karlby started his collaboration with LYFA in the 1940s, which was a partnership that would last more than three decades. He is known for his soft light, organic shapes and hallmark peepholes. During his career, Karlby moved more towards pure geometric shapes such as the cone, cylinder and arc along with playful colours. Today, his most iconic designs include the MOSAIKPAN and PEANUT series and he is regarded as one of the most productive and versatile lighting designers in Denmark.

1950 - 1960

The right light with LYFA

LYFA has since 1903 been known for their high expertise and wide range of lighting categories – which shows in their ‘Handbook of Lighting”. LYFA mastered decorative and industrial, large-scale and small-scale as well as indoor and outdoor lighting. Slogans such as ‘Lighting for all occasions’, ‘Lamps for the modern home’ and ‘Get the right light with LYFA’ were statements to emphasise the diverse collection, contemporary mindset and craftsmanship of LYFA. Inside the Handbook of Lighting from 1956, the NINOTCHKA pendant can be seen along with product specifications and additional designs in the Ninotchka series.

1960 - 1970

DIVAN 2 - the Tivoli pendant

In 1962, Simon P. Henningsen unveiled a new pendant designed for the famous Divan 2 restaurant –a highly unique and spectacular pendant that was later bestowed with several Danish and international awards. DIVAN 2 was put into production by LYFA and in the years ahead, Simon P. Henningsen expanded his collaboration with LYFA and continued to explore theatrical light and the effects of colours. Today, the work of Simon P. Henningsen is characterised by a distinctive geometric aesthetic and his use of shimmering surfaces – and DIVAN 2 stands as his masterpiece.

1970-1980

Colourful 1970's

During the 1970s when Pop Art was trending, LYFA began to explore new shapes, materials and colours. The early editions of the PAN wall lamps had colourful insides and the first ERGO lamps came in popping colours such as bright orange and a vivid green made from plastic. The materials and colours are true to the 1970s space-age inspiration and the zeitgeist surrounding this decade within Danish design.

PAN wall lamps with colourful insides

ERGO table lamp with a popping green plastic shade and walnut base

The LYFA Park

Outside the small Danish city, Måløv, LYFA had its headquarters for almost four decades. In the 1950s, LYFA had an unofficial railway stop named ‘LYFA trinbrættet’ as it was mainly operating for the employees at LYFA. Up until 1979, the train stopped in the morning and afternoon at working days. The stop still stands but it is no longer in use. Today, the area surrounding the original LYFA buildings is named ‘The LYFA Park’ and the five large buildings house different brands and co-working spaces.

1980 - 1998

The end of an era

In the late 1970s, LYFA merged with another Danish lighting company named Fog & Mørup. A few years after, Lyfa-Fog & Mørup was taken over by another large lighting producer, Lyskær, and the Fog & Mørup brand was abandoned. Lyskær-Lyfa continued to produce lighting designs under the LYFA label until 1991 when Lyskaer-Lyfa was incorporated into Horn Belysning. Horn Belysning kept the Lyskær-Lyfa brand active until 1998 when the switch to one of Denmark's oldest lighting companies was finally turned off.  

2020

Relaunch

After having been closed down for more than twenty years, LYFA once again sees the light of day.

LYFA is a passion for the timeless designs, their significant history and proud traditions within craftsmanship and the good light. The relaunched items are a curated selection of nine iconic product families across four categories and spanning from 1946 to 1978 - chosen with great respect for the original design language, high level of detail and choice of material. Key features for the entire collection are the refined, sculptural appearances and the ability to create an atmosphere and bring life to a room.

The 2020 collection was launched at 3daysofdesign at Kolonien, Refshaleøen.
Relive the world premiere

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