Greta von Nessen (December 6, 1898 – 1975) The Swedish designer was a graduate of the School for Industrial Arts in Stockholm. She met her german-born husband Walter when he was in Stockholm working for Greta’s father, a prominent architect. Greta and Walter moved to the US in 1925 and they established Nessen Studio in 1927.
In 1936 Walter designed the now prolific swing arm lamp. For some reason MoMA dates the lamp at 1927 but all the sources I've found say 1936.
Photo: MoMA
Or did he? Walter gets all the credit but perhaps he shouldn't.
Source: Baltimore Sun, 1952
This also seems to suggest that Greta should be given some credit for the "famous Von Nessen swing arm".
During WWII Greta worked as a multilingual operator with The United States Office of War Information (OWI). Walter died in 1943. She reopened Nessen Studio in 1945 and continued designing lamps. She said the only tradition she believed in is that of sound design and uncompromising quality.
Source: Daily News, 1950
Source: Miami News, 1949
Here is Greta mixing it up with Marcel Breuer, Kurt Versen and Yasha Heifetz.
Source: The Gazette, 1949
Her designs were selected for MoMA Good Design Exhibitions, including the "Anywhere Lamp" in 1951.
Source: MoMA
