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Danish design brand Audo has long been an editor and designer go-to for lighting fixtures, particularly portable lamps and sculptural pendants. The draw lies in commitment to the heritage design in its collection while also dreaming up new pieces to add to their stable, like the contemporary classic JWDA lamp, and the Domino favorite Dancing pendant, which we have seen in countless home tours over the years.
Now, Audo has entered two fresh forms into the category with their Chancery pendant and Nonna table lamps. While designed by two different studios and drawing inspiration from equally disparate sources, both styles embrace natural materials and an earthy palette as well as the cool, precise touch of metal.
Chancery Pendant Lamp
Norm Architects, a regular collaborator with Audo (see: Bottle Grinder, Wine Breather Carafe, and Offset Sofa Bed), originally designed this wide, rippled pendant for Chancery House in London. Its form, the architects note, draws inspiration from the building itself, a historic structure set atop the London Silver Vaults—it was first built in the 19th century and reconstructed after the second world war for what it’s still used as today: office space. You can see the stepped façade in the light’s silhouette, and the aluminum shade references the underground silver market below.
“For the Chancery House project, we paired the pendant with red brick, sandstone, and concrete,” says partner Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, who adds that the backdrop allows its shiny finish to stand out. We could see doing the same at home with the Chancery, pairing it with muted tones and tactile surfaces in a dining room or expansive entryway.
Nonna Table Lamp
In contrast to the Chancery, the Nonna series is all about small spaces. The line is designed by Krøyer-Sætter-Lassen, a duo that has also created countless Audo items, and meant to balance a contemporary and classic look in its combination of materials (travertine, aluminum, fabric) and scale.
“We often work with urban living contexts, where space is at a premium,” says co-founder Emil Krøyer. “Designing a lamp that feels generous in character but physically compact allows it to adapt to hallways, shelves, or smaller rooms without losing presence.” To wit: the tall base is less than 10 inches around and the wide version is just six inches deep, making the latter perfect for shallow shelves, window sills, and other awkward nooks. The name is, naturally, in homage to grandmothers; both Krøyer and Sætter-Lassen say theirs have been a great source of inspiration in how they understand atmosphere and mood in design. They’re bound to join the ranks of Audo favorites.
