Counterbalance ceiling lamp by JJM Hoogervorst
This hanging ceiling lamp was designed by JJM ‘Jan’ Hoogervorst for the Dutch lamp producer Anvia in 1957. This is the original and early edition of this fishing rod lamp as later editions were shorter, had a ring in the middle or plastic elements. This one has an all-metal construction. There’s using marks and some minor paint loss on the rod, but the grey metallic shade is intact without any dents.
The ingenious design allows to adjust the lamp effortless in any position thanks to the weight-shifting mechanism located at the arm’s end. You can simply screw the weight back and forth, putting the lamp perfectly in balance. The sculptural shape of this big boy adds to the attraction of this original collector’s item. The lamp wiring is checked and in working condition. The socket has an E27 fitting for one lamp of maximum 60 Watts. This lamp is working on 110/220V.
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Dimensions:
W: 207 CM
D: 38 CM
H: 70 CM
Weight: approx. 8 kilo.
Material: metal
Johannes Joseph Maria (Jan) Hoogervorst (Alkmaar 1918 – Gorssel 1982) was born in a family of four. His father worked as a professional soldier before the war and later in construction. After the war, the family considered emigrating to Canada, but Hoogervorst chose to stay behind. He became a self-taught craftsman, focusing on furniture design, interior decoration, and lighting design.
Interested in painting and drawing, he became a disciple of artist Kees Verwey after high school. Over time, he shifted from being a fine artist to designing interior lighting for public spaces like churches, theaters, and cinemas. He collaborated with renowned interior designers such as Carel Wirtz and Kho Liang Ie, creating notable designs for spaces like the ‘New Schiphol’ airport.
In the early 1950s, Hoogervorst met Ilse Kaufmann-Liebert, daughter of ANVIA’s founder, and began designing for the company as an independent contractor. ANVIA became a leading lighting manufacturer in the Netherlands, alongside Hala and Philips. Hoogervorst’s functional, minimalist designs, particularly his lighting fixtures, gained popularity in the postwar years.
His designs helped revive ANVIA, and the company sold its products at high-end stores like De Bijenkorf. Hoogervorst continued to work on new designs for ANVIA throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including pendant lights, table lamps, and floor lamps.
Besides his work for ANVIA, Hoogervorst founded his own studio, Interdesign. He collaborated with architects and designers to create lighting for a variety of public spaces, including theaters, convention centers, offices, and hospitals. His studio was responsable for the lighting for Schiphol Airport’s new building in 1967 and for the lighting renovation of Rotterdam’s Luxor Theater in 1972.
Hoogervorst was divorced and had two sons, one of whom became a painter. In the late 1970s, he briefly entered a business venture to develop electronic stage lighting. However, after a trip to Canada in 1980, where he planned to start a lighting company, he became seriously ill and passed away shortly afterward.
Today, his original lamp designs are sought after by collectors, especially the original and non repainted versions. His designs are included in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
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Domestic Deliveries: In some areas we offer personal one man delivery at starting rates of 60 euro (Antwerp city and its districts). For other domestic destinations we work with Brenger at their rates, plus packing and handling fee. International Deliveries: We partner with trusted couriers like Magic Movers and Convelio. Once the item leaves our warehouse, the shipper bares full responsibility for any damage that may occur during handling or transport . We can offer shipping with full insurance. We kindly ask that you inspect your items upon delivery. Please check if your order is complete and unharmed. If you notice any issues, let us know right away so we can find a solution for you and any other party involved.
