Midgard Marks 107 Years With Fully Repairable Lighting Collection
Founded in 1919, the German lighting company Midgard has ensured that all lamp parts can be replaced, often manually, as stated by CEO David Einsiedler. The brand began with a wall-mounted lamp created by engineer Curt Fischer for his workshop. In the 1950s, Midgard introduced a spring-balanced lamp featuring adjustable arms. After facing insolvency in the early 2010s, Einsiedler, along with his wife Joke Rasch and Kristin Seel, acquired the company in 2015, bringing back iconic designs such as the spring-balanced lamp and the K831 pendant. New offerings include the Ayno by Stefan Diez and Loja by Sebastian Herkner. A standardized LED unit facilitates upgrades, and future innovations will ensure compatibility. Einsiedler emphasizes the importance of repairability in contemporary lighting.
Key facts
- Midgard is a 107-year-old German lighting manufacturer based in Hamburg
- Founder Curt Fischer designed a wall-mounted, jointed lamp with a movable head in 1919
- By the 1950s the company had developed a spring-balanced lamp with adjustable arms and a swivelling shade
- Midgard was insolvent by the early 2010s and was purchased in 2015 by David Einsiedler and Joke Rasch
- Kristin Seel later joined the pair, who returned classic designs including the K831 pendant to production
- Ayno was conceived by German designer Stefan Diez with a flexible fibreglass rod and textile cable
- Loja was designed by Offenbach-based Sebastian Herkner with a curved paper shade and translucent glass cylinder
- A standardised LED unit can be used across the entire contemporary collection, including older pieces
Entities
Artists
- David Einsiedler
- Curt Fischer
- Joke Rasch
- Kristin Seel
- Stefan Diez
- Sebastian Herkner
- Mart Stam
Institutions
- Midgard
- Bauhaus
- Monocle
Locations
- Hamburg
- Germany
- Offenbach
Sources
- Monocle —