Ninotchka
A steel pendant with a single asymmetric, draped shade, drawn by Bent Karlby in 1954 after a hat Greta Garbo wore in the film Ninotchka, and made by LYFA.
- Designed by
- Bent Karlby
- Made by
- LYFA
- First made
- 1954
Pictures © LYFA, from lyfa.com.
Why it is renowned
The British design magazine OnOffice named the Ninotchka among the Bent Karlby lamps in the showroom of LYFA's return at 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen.1 The pendant already appeared, with its variants, in LYFA's Handbook of Lighting of 1956.2
The story
Bent Karlby drew the lamp in 1954.3 He took its form from a hat worn by Greta Garbo in the 1939 film Ninotchka.3 The lamp has a single steel shade with asymmetric drapes.3 The open top sends a soft light upward and the lower part throws direct light down; the shade can be turned on its fitting to set the angle of the drapes.3
The first Ninotchka was red outside and white inside.3 LYFA now makes it in red, white and black, in four sizes.3
Sources
- LYFA, the acclaimed Danish lighting company, returns during 3 Days of Design, OnOffice. onofficemagazine.com, read 1 October 2026.
- Arkivet, LYFA. lyfa.com, read 1 October 2026.
- NINOTCHKA / 275, LYFA. lyfa.com, read 1 October 2026.
Last checked 1 October 2026, against the maker's own pages.