Good Questions: What Is the IKEA Knappa a Knockoff Of?

Lexi has a good question. She says, I'm curious as to who Ikea's Knappa pendant light is a knock off of? I recently purchased a very similar pendant light off of Craig's List. I've attached the picture of both the Ikea light and my own. All the sellers knew about the light I purchsaed was that it was from the 70's and made by Scandinavian Design. I haven't been able to find anything online that's remotely similar, however.

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
chicago(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

Can anyone help Lexi out with some info? Please let her know in the comments below...

Comments (9)

Le Klint
http://www.leklint.com/pre/frontsite.aspx

posted by funstraw on June 10th 2009 at 11:36am
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This light is a knock off of a Poul Henningsen design.

posted by bones1979 on June 10th 2009 at 11:38am
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Speaking of which, I recently scored the lamp on the cover of this book for cheap (it's slightly damaged, but the damage isn't noticeable). Anyone know who designed it?
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Retro-Andrew-Weaving/dp/1845976142

posted by creativeneurosis on June 10th 2009 at 11:53am
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I have this lamp, and I love it!

posted by SandraKJ on June 10th 2009 at 12:13pm
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Strangely enough, if you find that the original is not affordable, if you leave the top row of leaves off Ikea's version, it looks desperately similar to the original.

;)

posted by bfootnovellista on June 10th 2009 at 12:49pm
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Actually it isn't a knock off, It's a rip off. A knockoff would use nicer materials and construction. A rip off would steal a design and use the cheapest possible materials and have barely the lifetime of an original.

posted by funstraw on June 10th 2009 at 1:53pm
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i've seen a couple pictures of a vintage lamp that's looks exactly like the knappa except it's orange. however, i didn't find any info on it.

posted by rasabasa123 on June 10th 2009 at 3:52pm
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I love IKEA's cheap knockoff of Poul Henningsen's 1958 Artichoke lamp:

http://www.bonluxat.com/cmsense/data/uploads/orig/Poul_Henningsen_PH_Artichoke_Lamp_pnq.jpg

In fact, I think IKEA's knockoff works better in most rooms than the original, which I've seen in person and think is gorgeous, but waaaaay too much MCM for most rooms. (It's also ginormous - I don't know if there's a mini-me version.)

IKEA's knockoff has much softer, more organic lines. It sorta looks like 1958 by way of 1968. The only problem I have with it is that it definitely only comes in one size, and it's far too small for some rooms.

posted by sunspot42 on June 10th 2009 at 11:34pm
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I also think that it is mainly inspired by artichoke light - which IS aviable in more sizes and if it was a bit on a cheaper side I now have one.

posted by handz on June 11th 2009 at 11:17am
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