The Philosophy of Craft Meets Art
Established in Copenhagen in 2010 by Martin Kornbek Hansen, &Tradition was built on an explicit premise: tradition is not a static museum piece, but an evolving dialogue between mid-century masters and today's design visionaries. The house produces furniture and lighting that honor Nordic craft traditions while embracing forward-thinking silhouettes and varied materials.
Nowhere is this dialogue clearer than in &Tradition's lighting collection, which balances the expressive pop-art geometry of Verner Panton with delicate, artisanal pieces made from mouth-blown glass, turned wood, and hand-pleated washi paper.
Verner Panton's Flowerpot: The Geometry of Peace (1968)
In 1968, amidst the social upheaval of the late 1960s and the Flower Power movement, Danish architect Verner Panton designed the Flowerpot pendant (VP1). While his contemporaries favored organic bentwood and understated glass, Panton celebrated vivid colors and pure geometric shapes.
The Flowerpot's design is brilliantly concise: two semi-circular metal hemispheres facing each other. The upper hemisphere is exactly twice the diameter of the lower one. The smaller lower cup acts as a glare shield, cradling the light source and reflecting its output upward into the concave interior of the larger dome.
In recent years, &Tradition expanded Panton's concept by introducing the Flowerpot VP9—a cordless, rechargeable portable table lamp equipped with a 3-step magnetic touch dimmer. By untethering the lamp from fixed wall outlets, &Tradition brought Panton's 1968 design directly into modern outdoor terraces, bedside tables, and dining settings.
Formakami by Jaime Hayon: Contemporary Rice Paper Optics
At the opposite end of the material spectrum sits the Formakami series, created for &Tradition by Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon. Hayon looked to ancient Asian lantern traditions, updating them with clean Scandinavian proportions and bold black-lacquered oak trim.
Crafted by hand using ultra-light ivory rice paper, Formakami fixtures diffuse light evenly across 360 degrees. The delicate paper eliminates glare while softening harsh shadows, making large-scale pendants (such as the JH5, measuring 70 cm across) feel remarkably light and airy above dining tables or in double-height stairwells.
Technical Specifications: Key &Tradition Fixtures
| Model | Designer / Era | Materiality | Power / Control | Portability / Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowerpot VP9 Portable | Verner Panton (1968 / 2020) | Polycarbonate shade, brass hardware | Micro-USB recharge, 3-level touch dimmer | 10 hrs battery at 100%, IP44 rated |
| Flowerpot VP1 Pendant | Verner Panton (1968) | Deep-drawn lacquered steel | E27 / 40W max, 300 cm textile cable | Hardwired ceiling canopy |
| Formakami JH5 Pendant | Jaime Hayon (2015) | Handmade rice paper, black stained oak | 2x E27 / max 60W (2700K warm white) | Ultra-lightweight suspension (0.8 kg) |
| Bellevue AJ9 Wall Lamp | Arne Jacobsen (1929) | Spun brass / aluminum, gooseneck tube | E14 / 25W max, integrated switch | Directional 45-degree angle shade |
Comparative Evaluation: &Tradition Lighting
- Flowerpot VP9 brings warm, glare-free light anywhere without cords.
- Formakami paper shades soften large spaces without feeling heavy or bulky.
- Vibrant, rich color palette pays homage to Panton's original 1968 swatches.
- Combines industrial metal fabrication with delicate hand-assembled details.
- Rice paper shades require careful handling to avoid accidental punctures.
- VP9 portable battery requires periodic recharging to preserve battery health.
- Deep-drawn metal shades focus light downward, offering minimal ceiling uplight.
Practical Lighting Advice: Balancing Color and Light
Panton's vibrant colors make a bold statement, but they work best when balanced thoughtfully. Placing a mustard or cobalt Flowerpot table lamp on a neutral, pale oak surface lets the fixture shine as a sculptural focal point. Because the lower hemisphere completely hides the bare bulb, you can position the lamp at eye level on a shelf or desk without worrying about uncomfortable glare.