One look at Skandium‘s web site and I knew the company was a force to be reckoned with–the imposing sans serif font, complete with an extra space between each letter–announces such with a pronounced Scandinavian bravado (or is that an oxymoron?). The showiness ends there, however, for everything about this UK transplant (the principals hail from Sweden, Finland, and Denmark) suggests the North country penchant for staid reserve.

Pilke. Designed by Tuukka Halonen for Skandium.

On their “About Us” page they offer this unassuming article: “Skandium is a British company owned by three London based Scandinavians… we do wholesale, contract sales, and interior design.” They also happen to be the exclusive UK distributor for manufacturers like Asplund, iittala, Le Klint, Marimekko, and Muuto, a roster that aligns them with iconic figures such as Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, and Alvar Aalto. We here at 3rings are always nuts about a good Finn! (see last week’s LEC Auditorium Chairs), so I was happy to observe that, like compatriot Aalto, Finnish designer Tuukka Halonen has quite an affinity for laminate sheets of wood. Halonen constructed the Pilke series of pendant lamps from uniform interlocking ply-birchwood cut-outs–an approach that creates an intriguing aesthetic while putting the “hand” back in “hand-crafted.”

Pilke comes in a two styles and a choice of white, black, or beige. The 60 cm version has a circular aspect while the 36 cm model has a subtly cylindrical orientation, resembling from one perspective a geometricized teardrop. In the best green Scandinavian style, the lamps only accommodate energy saving bulbs. Pilke’s unorthodox assembly creates an intricate wax and wane effect–very like the subtle interplay visible among fluctuating strands of woven wicker. In contrast to that material’s raw organicism, however, Pilke is all straight lines and hard angles. Given the methodology of construction, one might expect the overall effect to be rather austere. Surprisingly, Pilke is anything but: the multiple intersections create a blossoming bouquet that resembles a cubist flower. In fact, Pilke reminds me of proud peonies and daring dahlias, their naked exuberance charming the pants off the most cynical among us.

Via Dezeen.