Based on the need for better lighting in early 20th century Danish homes— mostly lit by oil lamps, at the time—Danish architect and engineer Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint folded a lampshade for a stoneware petroleum lamp around the year 1900.

Inspired by Japanese origami, Jensen-Klint developed a cross-pleating technique that allowed his lamp shades to have a collar/top at an angle of 90° to the straight pleats.

To this day, Jensen-Klint’s design approach and techniques are the foundation of Copenhagen, Denmark-based Le Klint’s exquisitely crafted lighting and lamp shades.