Poul Henningsen - "PH 3½-2" table light - Louis Poulsen, Denmark ca. 1933

Poul Henningsen - "PH 3½-2" table light - Louis Poulsen, Denmark circa 1933

A browned brass and bakelite table light, model “PH 3½-2” with white opaline glass shades. Designed by Poul Henningsen in 1925 and executed between 1933 and 1938 by Louis Poulsen.

The 1933 variant had a slightly simplified contruction to save contruction cost during the worldwide recession. It made use of a brass stem, lacquered duco base and bakelite top, socket house and switch.

The size of the top shade identifies this light as a model PH 3½-2 with multilayer white opaline glass shades.

The light is in really good vintage condition with undamaged shades and bakelite components.

About Poul Henningsen

Poul Henningsen (1894 Ordrup, Denmark – 1967 Hillerød, Denmark) was a famous Danish Architect, Designer, Author and Critic. He was one of the leading figures of the Danish cultural live between the two war wars. He is most commonly associated with his design of the PH-lamp series of incandescent lamps.

He started his career with the architect Kay Fisker in 1919. From 1920 onwards, Poul Henningsen freelanced as an architect and designer. His most valuable contribution to design was in the field of glare-free illumination. Henningsen spent developing lighting that was not harsh and glaring but shed warm, soft light.

The first lamps in the "PH" range were shown at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts at Paris in 1925. The PH-lamp which, like his later designs, used carefully analysed reflecting of the light rays from the bulb to achieve glare-free and uniform illumination. His light fixtures were manufactured by Danish lighting manufacturer Louis Poulsen, a company with which Henningsen would build a lifelong working relationship.

During his first year with Louis Poulsen he developed his first PH-lamp for which he won a gold medal on the 1925 world exhibition in Paris.

His best-known designs are most likely the PH Artichoke (1958) and PH5 (1958). His lighting designs created the economic foundation of his later work. Manufacture and sale of some of his lighting fixtures, such as the PH5 Pendant Lamp, continues today.

Other notable designs by him include the PH Grand Piano (1931), examples of which are included in several prominent twentieth-century design collections, including that of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. In 1946, he re-designed the Glass Hall (Glassalen) for Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.

Price including VAT: SOLD