The New Bronze PAN: Transforming Light into Art design by Bent Karlby – Lyfa

The iconic pendant is designed by Bent Karlby in 1970 and crafted from 12 polished aluminium pipes. While elegantly illuminating its glossy exteriors through its open pipes, the pendant provides comfortable downlight and subtle ambient lighting through its open top.

 

 

One part light and one part art, PAN is visually striking at all hours of the day.

The PAN series is a beautiful example of Bent Karlby’s unique talent for capturing the zeitgeist of an area and turning it into designs that would come to transcend their inspiration.

The open tubular design of the PAN pendant allows for diffused light to beautifully illuminate the aluminum pendant while completely hiding the light source. The direct downlight provides functional illumination, whereas the upward lighting is subtle and decorative.

 

 

BENT KARLBY, 1912 – 1998
Bent Karlby is widely regarded today as one of Denmark’s most productive and versatile lighting designers of the 20th century. He started his collaboration with LYFA in the 1940s, which was a partnership that would last nearly four decades. Bent Karlby 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. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bent Karlby never employed staff in his studio. He wanted things done his way and was known for his uncompromising work ethics. Among his most famous works are the PEANUT, China, Japan, MOSAIK, NINOTCHKA, Barcelona and PAN pendants, the ERGO table lamp as well as the Peacock, Quadrille, PAN and GOTHIC wall lamps.