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Carl Fagerlund (1915-2011), born in Kalmar, Sweden. He trained to be an art teacher at Högre konstindustriella skolan, subsequently Konstfack, University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm. Following his studies he worked as an art teacher for a year before being employed as architect of lighting at ASEA in 1944. In 1946, he got a corresponding position at Orrefors, where he remained until 1980. During his time at Orrefors, he was awarded the silver medal for his contribution at the Milan Triennial XI, in 1957. Fagerlund designed several custom lighting solutions for public spaces and shipping companies. Among his major contributions is the monumental installment made for the Kennedy Center in Washington D. C. in 1971. It included 38 chandeliers and wall lights for the “Grand Foyer” and with each chandelier weighing 1.700 kg (ca 3.750 lbs) it was the then largest order ever to have gone out from Orrefors. Fagerlund’s clean, imposing designs were very popular during the midcentury period, outside of Scandinavia particularly in the United States. Alongside public installments, Carl Fagerlund also designed numerous lighting models for home use, including the table lamps in translucent glass and varying colors, that have a timeless poise.
Literature: ORREFORS Ett svenskt glasbruk. Ann Marie Herlitz-Gezelius. Atlantis, 1984
