Swedish Lighting Studio since 1934
Founding and Location:
Ateljé Lyktan was founded in 1934 by Swedish architect and designer Hans Bergström (born 1910 in Karlshamn) together with his then-fiancée Verna Norell. According to company lore, the idea for the business was conceived in a Copenhagen milk bar, where the couple decided to produce lamps and woven rugs. The company name combines the Swedish words for "studio" (ateljé) and "lamp" (lyktan). The first premises were in the craftsmen's quarter of Helsingborg. As early as 1936 — just two years after founding — the company relocated to Åhus in the eastern Skåne region of southern Sweden, on the Baltic coast, where Verna Norell had family roots. Åhus remains the production site and headquarters of the company to this day.
Hans Bergström's guiding principle has been recorded in several Swedish publications and remains central to the brand: "Ljuset ska vara vitt och lysa fritt" — in English: "The light shall be white and shine freely."
Designers and Creative Identity:
Hans Bergström (1910–1981) — Founder and first chief designer
Hans Bergström studied at Stockholm's Konstfack (Institute of Industrial Design) and shaped the company's first decades with designs in the spirit of "Swedish Modern." His most celebrated work is Model 181 — the cone-shaped pendant lamp "Struten" (Swedish for "the cone"), designed around 1950 in the then-new material of plastic. For this model, Bergström was awarded a Gold Medal at the X. Triennale di Milano in 1954. The Struten remains in production today and is considered a classic of Scandinavian Mid-Century design. As early as 1949, the company made its first international appearance with a presentation at the newly opened Bonnier's department store in New York.
Anders Pehrson (1912–1982) — Took over management in 1964, Director until 1978
Anders Pehrson studied engineering and worked between 1952 and 1963 as design manager at Philips AB in Stockholm. According to the official company history, he was asked in 1964 to take over the entire management in Åhus, and subsequently shaped the company as managing director, artistic director and marketing director in one. His best-known design is the "Bumling" lamp (Swedish for "boulder" or "large round stone") from 1968, first shown at a lighting fair in Gothenburg. The Bumling was originally produced in six sizes and numerous colours and continues to be manufactured in Åhus today. Further important Pehrson designs include the "Simris" series (table lamp Model 591 and floor lamp Model 781, both 1964) as well as the "Supertube," "Tube," and "Knubbling" ranges, which became popular through the 1970s in both residential and public settings.
Contemporary Designers (selection):
Ateljé Lyktan has collaborated with leading Scandinavian designers for decades. Among the key contemporary designers are Matti Klenell (born 1972, lives and works in Stockholm, MFA in Interior Architecture and Furniture Design from Konstfack), responsible for the "Mela" lamp family, and Mattias Stenberg (Swedish architect and designer, graduate of the Royal Institute of Technology KTH in Stockholm, running his own studio since 2010). Designer Sigvard Bernadotte is also listed among the company's designers.
International Breakthrough: 1972 Munich Olympics:
Following a lighting exhibition in Copenhagen in 1970, Anders Pehrson was invited to develop a lighting concept for the Olympic Village of the 1972 Summer Games in Munich. Ateljé Lyktan supplied 16,300 lamps from the "Simris" series for the interior lighting of the village — to this day the largest single commission in the company's history. This project marked the company's definitive international breakthrough.
Part of the Fagerhult Group since 1974:
In 1974, Ateljé Lyktan was acquired by the Swedish lighting group Fagerhult Group. Hans Bergström remained active after the sale as managing director, artistic director and marketing director into the late 1970s. Today, Ateljé Lyktan is part of the "Collection" division within the Fagerhult Group and operates as Ateljé lyktan AB.
Awards and Milestones:
1949 — International debut at the newly opened Bonnier's department store in New York. 1954 — Gold Medal at the X. Triennale di Milano for Model 181 "Struten" by Hans Bergström. 1968 — Launch of the "Bumling" lamp at the lighting fair in Gothenburg. 1972 — Commission for 16,300 lamps for the Olympic Village in Munich. 1974 — Acquisition by the Fagerhult Group. 2012 — Red Dot Design Award for "Quad." 2014 — iF Product Design Award for "Hood."
Design Philosophy and Profile Today:
Ateljé Lyktan develops, designs and produces interior and exterior lighting at its Åhus site in southern Sweden. The company maintains an extensive archive of designs that have helped shape Swedish lighting design throughout the twentieth century. Classics such as Struten, Bumling, Simris, Supertube, Tube and Knubbling continue to be produced today and are established cornerstones of Scandinavian design history. Current collections are developed in collaboration with contemporary designers including Matti Klenell and Mattias Stenberg, continuing a tradition of reduced, functional and distinctly Nordic design.
Sources and References
German-language sources
[1] NordicNest.de – Brand: Ateljé Lyktan
[2] NordicNest.de – Designer profile: Anders Pehrson
English-language sources
[3] ateljelyktan.se – History (official company chronicle)
[4] ateljelyktan.se – Hans Bergström (official designer portrait)
[5] ateljelyktan.se – Designer Anders Pehrson (official)
[6] ateljelyktan.se – Discover / Archive (official)
[7] Fagerhult Group – Brand "Collection" (Ateljé Lyktan)
[8] Fagerhult Group – Timeline
[9] Architonic – Ateljé Lyktan brand profile
[10] Finnish Design Shop – Ateljé Lyktan
[11] Bukowskis Bukipedia – Hans Bergström
[12] Vintageinfo.be – Ateljé Lyktan catalogue 1934–2000
[13] Vintageinfo.be – Anders Pehrson Bumling Floor Lamp
[14] Scandinaviandesign.com – Mela NM & Pendant by Matti Klenell for Ateljé Lyktan
[15] Matti Klenell Studio – About (Ateljé Lyktan listed as client)
Swedish-language sources
[16] Svenska Wikipedia – Ateljé Lyktan
[17] Svenska Wikipedia – Hans Bergström (formgivare)
[18] Bizstories.se – "Ateljé Lyktan – mer än bara Bumling"
[19] LauritzBlogg Sverige – "Ateljé Lyktan – en svensk lampsuccé i strålkastarljuset"
[20] Åhus Sweden – Member entry: Ateljé Lyktan
As of 29 June 2026: Sources evaluated in German, English and Swedish.