EWA Värnamo

EWÅ Armaturfabrik, Värnamo – Swedish mid-century lighting design from Småland

Founding and location:

The EWÅ Armaturfabrik was founded in the early 1950s in Värnamo by the Swedish entrepreneur
and designer Erik Wärnå. Värnamo is located in the province of Småland in the Jönköping County
of southern Sweden and was an important centre of the Swedish furniture and metalware industry in the post-war era. The company name „EWÅ" is formed from the initials of the founder Erik WÅrnå (Eric Wärnå) and appears on the manufactory's luminaires partly as a signature and partly as a factory stamp reading „EWÅ Värnamo" or „EWÅ Armaturfabrik, Värnamo".
Production period and end of manufacture: Erik Wärnå ran the armature factory from its founding until 1975. In that year he sold the company; the buyer filed for bankruptcy the following year, 1976, ending the independent EWÅ brand. The company no longer exists today. The active production period thus spans about a quarter of a century and coincides with the golden years of Swedish and Scandinavian mid-century design from the 1950s into the 1970s.

Product programme and materials:

EWÅ Värnamo specialised in the manufacture of luminaires for residential settings. Documented
product types include table lamps, desk and work lamps, floor lamps and wall lamps. Characteristic of the programme is the use of polished or brushed brass as the carrier material, which is frequently combined with additional rattan wickerwork, lacquered metal (in black, white and the era-typical wrinkle-lacquer or crackle-lacquer finish known as „Krymplack"), oak wood, fabric shades, and clear-glass and opaline-glass bulbs. Adjustable articulated arms, rotating shades and coloured lacquered reflectors are recurring design elements – typical of Swedish functionalism in the post-war decades.

Designers and documented models:

Erik Wärnå acted not only as a manufacturer but also as designer of numerous luminaires from his own house. Among Wärnå's designs documented by name is the adjustable desk lamp model
„B52", which was produced at EWÅ Armaturfabrik, Värnamo in the 1950s. It has a brass neck and an originally lacquered metal shade, and today it is traded internationally on vintage-design
platforms. A further designer documented is C. E. Fors, who designed for EWÅ Värnamo in the 1960s, among other pieces the table lamp model „B162" with a black base, brass details and a continuous gold decorative rim on the shade. Fors was also responsible for wall lamps in brass and glass that appeared around 1970 in the EWÅ collection. Beyond these designs attributable by name, an extensive – and not always unambiguously signed – range of brass-and-rattan wall lamps and brass floor lamps has come down to us, all produced in Värnamo.

Stylistic classification:

The luminaires of EWÅ Värnamo are counted among Scandinavian Modern, or Swedish
mid-century modern. They stand in a line with other Swedish luminaire manufacturers of the period such as Örsjö Belysning, ASEA, Falkenbergs Belysning and Bergboms, and share their aesthetic: clear lines, warm material combinations (especially brass with natural materials such as rattan and oak), and functionally conceived adjustability of shade and arm. The use of Krymplack (crackle lacquer) on metal parts is a recurring, era-typical detail of the 1950s. In auction and specialist descriptions, EWÅ luminaires regularly appear together with classic Scandinavian vintage pieces and are treated as collectibles of Swedish mid-century modern design.

Market presence today:

Even more than 50 years after the end of production, luminaires by EWÅ Värnamo remain present in the international design and vintage trade. On platforms such as 1stDibs, Pamono, Chairish Vntg and The Expert, table, floor and wall lamps of the brand – most from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s – are offered for sale. Attribution is generally made via the signatures „Ewå Värnamo",„EWÅ Armaturfabrik, Värnamo" or via the reference to the company location Värnamo, Sweden.EWÅ thus belongs to the smaller, but well-documented Swedish luminaire brands of the post-war period, forming a distinctive collectible segment within the field of Scandinavian modernism.

Key data at a glance:

· Company name: EWÅ Armaturfabrik (also: Ewå Värnamo)
· Founder: Erik (Eric) Wärnå
· Location: Värnamo, Province of Småland, Jönköping County, Sweden
· Founded: early 1950s
· Sale of the company: 1975
· Bankruptcy of the successor: 1976
· Product programme: table, floor, desk and wall lamps
· Main materials: brass, rattan, lacquered metal (including Krymplack), oak, glass, textile
· Designers (documented by name): Erik Wärnå (e.g. model B52); C. E. Fors (e.g. model B162,
wall lamps in brass and glass)
· Style: Scandinavian Modern / Swedish mid-century modern

EWÅ Värnamo:

Vintage luminaires by EWÅ Värnamo such as the B52 desk lamp, the B49 wall lamp or models with the typical brass swan neck are regularly available in the range of Max's Vintage Art. All pieces are verified originals with European wiring.

Sources and further references:

· ODO Vintage – Model B52 Desk Lamp by EWÅ Armaturfabrik, Värnamo, Sweden, 1950s (Erik Wärnå as designer; location and dating evidence) – https://odovintage.com/shop/lighting/model-b52-desk-lamp
-by-ewa-armaturfabrik-varnamo-sweden-1950s/
· PRB Collection – EWÅ Värnamo, Wall Light, Brass, Glass, Sweden, 1970s (materials and productionperiod) – https://prbcollection.com/products/ewa-varnamo-wall-light-brass-glass-sweden-1970s
· 1stDibs – Ewå Värnamo Lighting (overview of the documented œuvre) –
https://www.1stdibs.com/creators/ewa-varnamo/furniture/lighting/
· 1stDibs – EWÅ Värnamo, Floor Lamp, Brass, Metal, Rattan, Sweden, 1950s (company designation
„EWÅ Värnamo Armaturfabrik") – https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/lighting/floor-lamps/ewa-varnamo-floor-lamp-brass-metal-rattan-sweden-1950s/id-f_38102492/
· 1stDibs – Ewå Värnamo, Wall lights / Sconces, Brass, Rattan, Sweden, 1960s (brass/rattan
combination) – https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/lighting/sconces-wall-lights/ewa-varnamo-wall-lights-sconces-brass-rattan-sweden-1960s/id-f_25313182/
· Pamono – Swedish Table Lamp in Brass and White Metal by Ewå Värnamo, 1950s –
https://www.pamono.com/swedish-table-lamp-in-brass-and-white-metal-by-ewa-vaernamo-1950s
· Chairish – Table Lamp Model B52 by Ewå Värnamo, Sweden (B52 model evidence) –
https://www.chairish.com/product/9758528/table-lamp-model-b52-by-ewa-varnamo-sweden
· Retrolivet.se – Bordslampa Krymplack EWÅ Värnamo Eric Wärnå, 1950s (Krymplack finish; Erik
Wärnå attribution) – https://retrolivet.se/produkt/bordslampa-krymplack-ewa-varnamo-eric-warna-50-tal/
· Retrolivet.se – Bordslampa Grå EWÅ Värnamo Eric Wärnå, 1950s –
https://retrolivet.se/produkt/bordslampa-gra-ewa-varnamo-eric-warna-50-tal/
· Värnamobloggen (mingataistan.blogg.se) – „EWÅ i Värnamo" (local-history blog on the factory in Värnamo) – https://mingataistan.blogg.se/2010/september/ewa-i-varnamo.html
· femtiotalsjakten.blogg.se – „Ljuset kommer från Värnamo" (blog on the origin of the luminaires from Värnamo) – https://femtiotalsjakten.blogg.se/2010/september/ahhh-en-ewa.html
· Byggnadsvård Jönköping – „seda EWÅ" (reference in the regional context of Jönköping building
conservation) – https://byggnadsvardjonkoping.wordpress.com/2016/06/29/att-lara-av-andra-eller-vara-sig-sjalv-nog/seda-ewa/
· Vntg.com – EWÅ (overview of 16 vintage objects of the brand) –
https://www.vntg.com/producer/ew%C3%A5/
· The Expert – Ewå Värnamo Brass Table Lamp – https://www.theexpert.com/shop/products/ewa-varna
mo-brass-table-lamp-p5116/ewa-varnamo-brass-table-lamp-v12426
· Incollect – Ewå Värnamo Lighting / Table Lamps – https://www.incollect.com/artists/ew-v-rnamo
· 1stDibs – Eric Wärnå Furniture (works overview of the founder and designer) –
https://www.1stdibs.com/creators/eric-warna/furniture/
· Ztijl – Vintage Swedish Desk Lamp by Ewa Värnamo, 1950s –
https://www.ztijl.com/mid-entury-design/lamps/table-lamps/swedish-desk-lamp-ewa-varnamo-1950s/
· French – Hagblom (EU vintage dealer): Table or wall lamp „B 49" from EWÅ Värnamo, Sweden 1950s
– https://www.hagblom.eu/product/table-or-wall-lamp-b-49-from-ewa-varnamo-sweden-1950s/
· Italian – 1stDibs Italia: C. E. Fors, Applique, Ottone, Vetro, Svezia, anni '70 (attribution of a wall lamp
to C. E. Fors for EWÅ, 1970s) – https://www.1stdibs.com/it/arredi/illuminazione/lampade-da-parete-e-ap
plique/ce-fors-applique-ottone-vetro-svezia-anni-70/id-f_42010182/
· Italian – Pamono Italia: Lampada da tavolo in ottone e metallo bianco di Ewå Värnamo, 1950s –
https://www.pamono.com/swedish-table-lamp-in-brass-and-white-metal-by-ewa-vaernamo-1950s
· Dutch – Ztijl.nl: Rode Bureaulamp uit Zweden van Ewa Värnamo, 1950s – https://www.ztijl.nl/vintage-d
esign/verlichting/tafellampen/bureaulampen/rode-bureaulamp-van-ewa-varnamo-zweden-1950s/
· Spanish – Pamono España: Lámpara de pared sueca mid-century moderna de Ewå Värnamo, 1950s
– https://www.pamono.es/lampara-de-pared-sueca-mid-century-moderna-de-ewa-vaernamo-a-os-50
· Danish – FRU DUE: Ewå Värnamo vintagelampe (Danish vintage dealer) –
https://frudue.dk/products/ewa-varnamo-vintagelampe
· Danish – FRU DUE: Ewå Värnamo – Sort (black-lacquered version) –
https://frudue.dk/products/ewa-varnamo-sort
· Norwegian / Scandinavian – Njord Vintage: EWÅ Varnamo 50's table lamp –
https://www.njord-vintage.com/products/ewa-varnamo-50s-table-lamp
· Finnish – Remodern Vintage: EWÅ Värnamo pöytävalaisin (table lamp) –
https://remodernvintage.com/en/products/ewa-varnamo-poytavalaisin
· Polish / Swedish – Bukowskis auction house: A Desk Light from EWÅ Värnamo, mid 20th century (lot
1038034, hammer price SEK 2,700, 21/06/2018) –
https://www.bukowskis.com/en/auctions/E282/lots/1038034-bordslampa-ewa-varnamo-1900-talets-mitt
· Swedish – Auctionet: Bordslampa, mässing, EWÅ, Värnamo Sweden (Swedish auction record) –
https://auctionet.com/sv/2455890-bordslampa-massing-ewa-varnamo-sweden
· Swedish – Barnebys: Auction price results for „ewå värnamo mässing" (price database) –
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/ew%C3%A5_v%C3%A4rnamo_m%C3%A4ssing.html
· Swedish – Reformfurniture: Ewå Värnamo (dealer overview) –
https://reformfurniture.se/produkt/ewa-varnamo/
· Swedish – Metropol Auktioner Stockholm: image archive „Ewå" –
https://www.metropol.se/press/bildbank/bildarkiv/default.asp?beskrivning=ew%C3%A5
· International – Authentic Provence: 20th-Century Yellow Swedish Metal Desk Lamp by EWÅ, Värnamo
– https://authenticprovence.com/product/20th-century-yellow-swedish-metal-desk-lamp-small-table-light
-by-ewa-varnamo/
Note: No company-owned publications or website of the EWÅ Värnamo brand are known to still exist. The
facts assembled here derive exclusively from publicly accessible dealer, auction, collector and blog sources
in a total of ten languages. Details such as model numbers (B 49, B52, B162) and designer attributions (Erik
Wärnå, C. E. Fors) rest on the attributions of specialist vintage dealers and auction houses.
As of 04/07/2026: publicly available sources in German, English, Swedish, French, Italian, Dutch, Spanish,Danish, Finnish and Polish evaluated.

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