Maker (01)
The makers · (01)
Taito Oy
Helsinki, 1918 · Paavo Tynell
- Founded
- 1918, Helsinki
- Founders
- Paavo Tynell, Emil Wikström, Frans Nykänen, Gösta Serlachius
- Designer
- Paavo Tynell (1890–1973), manager and chief designer
- Lighting
- From the late 1920s; brass, often with opal or perforated shades
- Later
- Majority owned by Idman Oy from 1953
- Factory closed
- Early 1960s
Taito Oy was founded in Helsinki in 1918 by the metal artist Paavo Tynell with the sculptor Emil Wikström, the silversmith Frans Nykänen and the industrialist and collector Gösta Serlachius. Tynell ran the company and was its chief designer.
Taito first made candlesticks, bowls, vases and architectural metalwork in brass, silver and tin. From the late 1920s light fittings became the main work: chandeliers, ceiling and wall lights and table lamps in brass, many with opal-glass or perforated shades. Architects including Alvar Aalto used Taito fittings in their buildings.
After the war the fittings reached the United States through Finland House in New York, which opened in 1948. In 1953 Idman Oy, Taito’s largest retailer, took a majority of the shares, and Tynell designed for Idman-Taito until 1958. Taito’s own factory closed in the early 1960s and production moved to Mikkeli.
In the collection
Each Taito piece is checked against the Taito and Idman catalogues. Its page shows the stamp and the catalogue reference where one exists, and says so where none has been found.