Piet Hein Candelabra 'Ursa Major', prototype 1953

Piet Hein became known as a scientist , mathematician, inventor and poet. He received his education at the university of Copenhagen where he studied physics and philosophy and where he went to several art schools. Piet Hein had his breakthrough with his design of the Super-Ellipse and its three dimensional version, the Super-Egg. He also created several mathematical games such as 'Hex'. His many thousands of poems and aphorisms, which he called 'grook' and partly published under the pseudonym 'Kumbel Kumbell', were translated into several languages and afforded him a worldwide reputation.

The 'Ursa Major' candelabra was created in Argentina, where Hein's parents lived and where he emigrated with his Jewish wife. Since the star constellation is not visible in the southern hemisphere Hein designed this candelabra to remind him of home.