Poul Henningsen – A floorlamp, model ‘PH 4-3’ – Louis Poulsen, Denmark 1938-1951

An antiqued metal, browned brass and opaline glass floorlamp, model ‘PH 4-3’. Designed by Poul Henningsen and executed by Louis Poulsen between 1938 and 1951.

The 1938 variant had a slightly different contruction as opposed to the more simple 1933 variant. It made use of an antiqued metal stem and a  lacquered duco base. It has a browned brass topplate and screw and a partly painted brass socket house.

The size of the top and middle shade identifies this floorlamp as a model ‘PH 4-3’ with multilayer white opaline glass shades. It is unmarked.

The light is in very good vintage condition with original glass shades and metal components. We had the light rewired with a round, fabric-covered dark brown cord, as used by Poulsen in the 1930’s, and added a floorswitch.

About Poul Henningsen

Poul Henningsen (1894 Ordrup, Denmark – 1967 Hillerød, Denmark) was a famous Danish architect, designer, author and critic. Poul Henningsen is considered one of the leading figures of the Danish cultural live between the two world wars and is most commonly associated with his design of the PH-lamp series of incandescent lights. PH Artichoke

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. For these designs Henningsen was awarded the gold medal. The 1925 PH-lamps 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.