${label}

${label}

${linkText}

${label}

${label}

${linkText}

The idea behind Thomas Bentzen’s Two-Layer Pendant Lamp for Muuto was—in many ways—nothing more than a piece of glass.  

"I was handed a strikingly simple yet interesting piece of glass by the design team and was really intrigued by incorporating rifling and different surface treatments into the design,” says the Copenhagen-based designer.  

Mouth-blown glass, with its texture and artisanal quality, is a material that turned out to align perfectly with Bentzen’s time-honed vision of blending form and function. Working with mouth-blow glass allowed him to create a lamp that not only provides illumination but also serves as a sculptural form in its own right. 

  • A Muuto Two-Layer pendant in olive, showcasing a contemporary design. The olive color adds a sophisticated touch to modern interiors
  • A pendant lamp with a ribbed glass shade is lit up and placed on a wooden sawhorse. The lamp's light is the primary source of illumination, casting shadows on the surrounding dark room.
  • A Muuto setup featuring a Two-Layer pendant 37 cm in olive paired with clear Raise glasses. The olive color and transparent glasses create a sophisticated and modern aesthetic, adding a touch of elegance to the space.
"The Two Layer Pendant combines two types of light—directional functional light for the table and comfortable ambient light —in one lamp. The grooved mouth-blown glass softly diffuses the light, highlighting the material's distinct quality and its small imperfections,” says Bentzen.  

Bentzen and his team spent months experimenting with different techniques to achieve the perfect balance between direct and diffused, glare-free light. In the final sketches, dual layers of clear and frosted glass with a punched steel mesh interior are precisely constructed to create a harmonious interplay of light and shadow. Together, these make for a lot of reflected light within the lamp—what we refer to as self-illuminance. 

  • Thomas Bentzen holding a ribbed, frosted glass sheet.
  • A close-up shot of a piece of glass with a ribbed pattern, with sketches on paper showing the design process. A black marker is visible in the foreground.
  • A cluttered workbench with various glass pieces, including clear bowls and metal parts, alongside paper templates. Tools and other materials are arranged across the workspace.

The many ripples of the mouth-blown glass create an optical effect that beautifully distorts the interior of the lamp, making it look intriguingly different from every angle. It awakens curiosity, inviting the viewer to explore. Bentzen emphasizes: 

“There’s a delicate and harmonious contrast between the glossy and frosted glass. The interplay between the different glass surfaces, the matte and polished steel,  and the two-layer design of the shade is the reason we chose to name it Two Layer Pendant,” Bentzen reveals.  

Incorporating the material posed significant challenges—a complex form requires rigor and meticulousness (not to mention lung capacity) to craft. It is a design challenge fit for only the most skilled craftspeople, as they shape the molten glass at 1500 degrees with a high level of precision. The process requires extensive training to master and makes each piece unique.  

  • A piece of glass in the process of being blown in a mold, showing the worker’s hands and the molten material cooling into a bowl shape.
  • A close-up shot of a person’s hand holding a tool as they work near a furnace.
  • A piece of glass in the process of being blown in a mold.

The final version of the Two-Layer Pendant Lamp is available with a neutral Light Grey or Black matte wet-painted metal dust cap and chord, as well as a softer, more natural Olive option. It is a refined design that elevates a wide range of settings, situations, and spaces. With a crafted appearance, it offers both functional and atmospheric light, making it a versatile and visually striking piece above the dining table or in the kitchen, in an elegant hotel bar, or in a modern workspace.  

Products shown in the story

More readings

${contentData.headline}

${contentData.items}