Ifö Electric’s New Brown Glaze – Elegant, Warm & Vibrant
The Ohm lighting collection, designed by Kauppi & Kauppi, celebrates its seventh anniversary with the introduction of a carefully developed new glaze 2026. A long-anticipated color, rooted in the company’s heritage and nature’s earthy tones. As the only manufacturer of pressed porcelain in Scandinavia, Ifö Electric has developed and produced porcelain lighting in its own facilities for nearly a century. Now proudly presenting a new porcelain glaze with warmth and depth, introduced as the third standard color across the entire Ohm range.
The Brown Glaze Story
Ifö Electric has a long-standing relationship with brown glaze, dating back to the early days of Iföverken. Insulators were among the first electrotechnical products manufactured at the porcelain factory. Many are still visible today as white-glazed shapes on historic buildings, bearing witness to the early era of electrification. What is less known is that a significant number of the insulators pressed during the 1930s were in fact glazed in brown. A rich, color chosen to harmonize with the environments in which they were installed, mounted on wooden power line poles across forests and open landscapes. Shimmering in sunlight, durable and resilient, glazed in nature’s earthy tones to blend in.
The brown glaze has existed in a couple of versions in Ifö Electric’s lighting fixture history. One of them dates back to the 1970s, when sauna luminaires were glazed in a matte brown stoneware glaze. In the early 2000s, another iteration was introduced, a lighter, high-gloss brown glaze. The color, however, was used sparingly during the two following decades. At the time, high-gloss white and black fixtures were favored, two contrasting finishes that remain a clear and timeless foundation within the Ifö Electric range.
“Something suddenly shifted in the early 2020s. As if a new aesthetic had emerged, architects began reaching out to ask for ‘the brown Ifö Electric glaze’. The interest came not only from Sweden, but architects in several countries – independently of one another, and without us at Ifö Electric having unveiled our latest glaze project. At the same time, we were already working on something truly exciting: a new contemporary brown glaze with a deeper tone and a richer expression, inspired by the company’s heritage and the historic brown landscape insulators. A new modern hue, for the architecture of our time,” says Anders Öringe, CEO Ifö Electric
The Ohm Collection – Glazed in Brown 2026
In 2019, Ifö Electric launched the Ohm lighting collection, designed by Kauppi & Kauppi. The lighting family draws inspiration from the company’s manufacturing heritage and from the porcelain insulators first produced in the early 1900s. Its refined silhouettes and soft curves, expressed in both porcelain bases and glass shades, have been warmly received, embraced by architects, and recognized with design awards in Sweden as well as internationally.
Over the years, Ohm has grown into a comprehensive family, with new added lighting categories and an expanded range of applications. Today, the collection is a trusted lighting tool for architects, lighting designers, and interior designers seeking a harmonious balance of form, function, and modularity. From table lamps and pendants to ceiling and wall fixtures, as well as arm-mounted models for facades and bathrooms. Ohm offers a versatile program well suited for modern architecture as well as historical buildings.
Traditionally, Ohm has been glazed in either white or black. In 2026, the collection will now be launched in a new, deep brown glaze, developed to echo the color historically used for landscape insulators. A natural and refined brown with a sophisticated lustre – warm, rich and full of life.
“For the Ohm collection, the new tone is much more than just a color. It transforms how the luminaires are perceived and gives the fixtures a renewed expression. White provides a nearly neutral, floating lightness, while black adds weight and precision. Brown sits between the two, giving the luminaires a warm and embracing character that highlights their materiality – with a natural and friendly sense of authenticity. As designers, we are especially drawn to timber architecture and wooden interiors, and we envision how the new warm color, the light, and the soft porcelain shapes will come together in a truly special way within these settings”, says designers Kauppi & Kauppi.
Developing a New Glaze Takes Time
Developing a new glaze is a technically complex and highly controlled process. The last time Ifö Electric developed a new glaze was about seven years ago. There are many stages involved, from selecting the right ceramic pigment that forms the foundation of the new color, to evaluating results of numerous test firings. Small adjustments can make a significant difference in the pursuit of the right balance between color, depth and luster.
It is equally important that the glaze possesses the right material properties, allowing the porcelain clay and the glass-like surface to interact in harmony, sharing the same shrinkage rate. This compatibility is what ensures a durable surface over time, resistant to cracking and unaffected by wind, water, or strong sunlight. Developing a new glaze is a demanding process, often taking up to a year to complete. The care and commitment is essential; the luminaires’ aesthetic expression is intended to endure and last for generations.
What is the Glaze Made Of?
Porcelain glaze consists of a carefully balanced combination of minerals such as quartz, feldspar, and kaolin. When fired at high temperatures, these form a dense, glass-like surface with a glossy finish. Quartz acts as the glass former, feldspar lowers the melting point, and kaolin provides stability while ensuring the glaze adheres perfectly to the porcelain. The brown color comes from a finely ground ceramic pigment, in this case iron oxide, which gives the glaze its warm and natural tone.
