Kvadrille wall, table or shelf lamp designed by Bent Karlby for Lyfa, 1960s

Kvadrille wall, table or shelf lamp designed by Bent Karlby for Lyfa, 1960s

Designed by architect Bent Karlby and produced by Lyfa in the late 1960s, the Kvadrille is a Danish art lamp that can be hung on a wall or displayed freestanding on a table or shelf. Measuring 25 cm square with a depth of 11 cm, it is an artwork as much as a lighting fixture – an interesting sculptural piece when unlit, which transforms into a spectacular display of the cosy fireside warmth that is Danish hygge when lit. The creation of hygge was the primary purpose of many of Karlby's lamp designs, and the Kvadrille is one of his most striking examples. This example is in excellent condition with no damage except that the head of one of the four fixing pins (bottom right in the relevant pictures) has separated from its shaft. However, this has no effect on its structure or stability. The lamp takes a standard Edison screw golfball bulb max 40w.