Most table lamps pick a lane: they’re either sculptural objects you admire or functional fixtures you switch on and forget. The Audo Copenhagen JWDA Table Lamp refuses to choose. Its opal glass shade sits on a base of raw concrete, cool marble or polished brass, pairing something fragile with something solid in a way that has made it one of the most recognisable lamps in contemporary Scandinavian design.
What Is the JWDA Table Lamp?
The JWDA takes its name from its designer, Jonas Wagell, the Swedish architect who founded Studio JWDA in Stockholm in 2008. Wagell has described the lamp’s form as inspired by archaic oil lamps of the past, simplified into an organic silhouette where “the raw and delicate harmoniously meet in one.” That single idea — a soft glass bulb-shape balanced on a heavier, textured base — is what gives the JWDA its quiet presence on a desk, side table or shelf. It’s produced by Audo Copenhagen, the Danish design house formerly known as Menu, which has spent decades building a catalogue of furniture, lighting and homewares out of Copenhagen.
A Base for Every Interior
Part of the JWDA’s appeal is how differently it reads depending on the base you choose. The standard range runs through light grey concrete, alabaster white steel, ammonite grey steel, black painted steel, bronzed brass and polished brass, with marble and travertine versions also produced for a heavier, more luxe finish. Every base pairs with the same opal glass shade, which softens the light rather than casting a hard beam — it’s a lamp built more for atmosphere than task lighting. At roughly 29cm tall and 17cm across (32cm and 19cm for the marble variants), it’s substantial enough to anchor a console table without overwhelming a small desk.
Function Built Into the Knob
The design detail most people notice on first use is the metal knob set into the base, which doubles as both the on/off switch and a dimmer — there’s no separate cord switch to fumble for in the dark. It runs on a G9 bulb, comes with a 200cm cord, and is rated for 220V at a maximum of 40W, which keeps running costs low for a lamp that’s likely to be left on for hours at a time. The concrete and steel versions weigh around 1.35kg, rising to roughly 2.1kg in marble, so it sits with enough weight to stay put on a shelf without feeling like it belongs on the floor instead.
Who the JWDA Table Lamp Is Best For
- Anyone furnishing a Scandinavian or minimalist-leaning interior who wants a single sculptural object rather than a full lighting scheme
- Buyers who want a lamp that changes character with the base finish — pick concrete for a study, brass for a bedroom, marble for a formal living room
- People who prefer ambient, diffused light over a bright task lamp for reading
- Anyone tired of separate cord switches, thanks to the built-in dimmer knob
Where to Buy
The Audo Copenhagen JWDA Table Lamp is available in Australia through BEON, which stocks the full range of finishes across Audo Copenhagen’s lighting and furniture catalogue, formerly sold under the Menu name.
