Artek’s AMA 500 pendant, designed by Aino Aalto, is a stunning classic from 1941. Due to its shape that provides generous downwards lighting, the simple, beautifully designed piece is ideal for being placed on top of a dining table or desk. The decorative brass ring is not only an attractive detail but has a function: the cleverly perforated ring prevents glare.
Aino Aalto designed the AMA 500 pendant originally for Villa Mairea, a building she designed in collaboration with her husband Alvar Aalto. Built as the home of Maire and Harry Gullichsen, Villa Mairea is regarded as one of the greatest home designs of 20th-century architecture. To this day, the AMA 500 pendant is still in use at Villa Mairea’s library.