Verner Panton – A ‘VP Europa’ Tablelamp – Louis Poulsen, Denmark 1970’s

The table lamp model “VP Europa” features a chromed base and a mould-blown glass shade. It was designed by Verner Panton in 1977 and produced by Louis Poulsen in the late 1970s.

The VP Europa series included two sizes of pendant lamps, a floor lamp, and two sizes of table lamps. The table lamp bases are shaped like a trumpet, echoing the form seen in Panton’s earlier Panthella designs from the early 1970s. The shade of the VP Europa, however, differs in its construction and character. It is handmade, and its layered form can be understood as a reference to the PH lamps developed by Danish designer Poul Henningsen.

The combination of handcrafted glass shades and multiple chromed components made the lamps relatively expensive to manufacture. As a result, production at Louis Poulsen was limited to a short period. Examples that have been well preserved are therefore rare and sought after today.

About Verner Panton

Verner Panton (Gentofte 1926 – Copenhagen 1998) was a Danish designer known for his experimental approach to form, color, and material. Born in Gamtofte on the island of Funen, he studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. Early in his career, he worked in the studio of Arne Jacobsen, where he gained practical experience and developed an interest in furniture and interior design. By the mid-1950s, Panton established his own practice and began pursuing a more independent and unconventional design direction.

Panton’s work is often associated with the spirit of the 1960s, a period in which he explored new possibilities in plastics and synthetic materials. He sought to challenge traditional ideas of furniture by creating fluid, organic forms and immersive interior environments. One of his most recognized achievements is the Panton Chair, introduced in the late 1960s, which became the first single-form injection-molded plastic chair. Its sculptural shape and bright colors exemplify his willingness to push technological and aesthetic boundaries.

In addition to furniture, Panton worked extensively with lighting. His collaboration with the Danish company Louis Poulsen resulted in several notable designs, including the Panthella lamp, which reflects his interest in soft, diffused light and harmonious shapes. These lighting designs remain in production and continue to be associated with modern Danish design.

Panton also created a number of interior installations, many of which were characterized by bold color schemes and a sense of spatial continuity. Projects such as the Visiona exhibitions demonstrated his ambition to design complete environments rather than individual objects. His interiors often combined textiles, furniture, and lighting into cohesive, immersive spaces.

Although his work was sometimes considered unconventional compared to other Scandinavian designers of his time, Panton’s influence has endured. His designs are represented in major museum collections around the world. These include the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Design Museum Denmark in Copenhagen, and the Vitra Design Museum in Germany.