Poul Henningsen

14 October - 10 November 2022

Danish architect and designer Poul Henningsen (1894-1967) was one of the leading figures of Danish cultural life in the 1930s. He was a self-taught inventor, and through his writings gained a reputation as a sharp critic of art, architecture and society.

Poul Henningsen originally trained as an architect at the Copenhagen College of Technology. In 1920, he set up his own architectural office in Copenhagen. He worked as a freelance architect and designed several houses, a factory, a part of the Tivoli amusement park, and the interiors of two theatres.

He is considered one of the most influential designers in the field of lighting.
PH lamps

Having grown up with gaslit interiors, Poul Henningsen had difficulty adjusting with the harsh glare of the pourly shaded electric bulb when electric lighting emerged in the early 1920s. To solve this problem, Henningsen analyzed the affect of the design of the fittings on the distribution and diffusion of light to develop a lamp that would recreate the soft, relaxing qualities of the petroleum lamps. The result of his efforts was the creation of a series of multishades lamps, soon to be known simply as the PH lamps.

The first lamp of the PH series, which won the first prize for modern lighting at the 1925 Paris exhibition, was produced by Louis Poulsen & Co. with who Henningsen collaborated throughout his career, designing more than 500 lights for the company.
The curvature and position of the three shades perfectly determined the distribution of light, directing it down, on the table or on the ground. At the same time, the glass shades allowed the light to harmoniously fill the room.

Different kinds of coloured glass or metal shades with matt frosted surfaces ensured that the lamps radiated a golden tone and cast a harmonious shadow.
Floor lamp PH 5/3 "PAT. APPL.", 1927
Patined brass and red lacquered metal

153 x 50 cm - 60 1/4 x 19 3/4 in

Manufactured by Louis Poulsen

This lamp is the rarest floor lamp designed by Poul Henningsen. Dated 1927, this floor lamp is one of the earliest « PAT. APPL. » stamped lamps that were designed by Poul Henningsen, between 1927 and 1929. The lamp is height-adjustable and furnished with a black cast-iron foot perched on 6 balls. The patined brass and red lacquered metal offer a brilliant illustration of the aerial aesthetic of Henningsen, who was not only concerned about creating a lamp that was practical, but also visually beautiful.
"Artichoke" pendant lamp, 1958
Metal and copper

60 x 70 cm - 23 5/8 x 27 1/2 in

Manufactured by Louis Poulsen
In 1958, Poul Henningsen was commissioned by architects Eva & Niels Koppel to design the lamps for their newly constructed Langelinie pavilion in Copenhagen. The Artichoke pendant lamps were especially developed to illuminate the modernist restaurant inside the building. The lamps are still in use today in the same restaurant.

The Artichoke lamp is all about harmonious light diffusion. The copper leaves staggered in rows completely conceal the light source inside and create a soft, glare-free illumination. The original design of those pendant lamps gives them a beautiful and spectacular sculptural presence even when turned off.
PH Snake Stool, 1932
Chromium plated tubular steel, metal

80 x 35.6 cm -31 1/2 x 14 in
This rare Snake stool designed by Poul Henningsen is one of the few prototypes produced by hand around 1932. Constructed with a single piece of tubular steel, Henningsen made the best use of the material to create a seat with only one leg, offering a highly dynamic and revolutionary design.
An important piece of the history of design, the Snake stool is displayed together with the iconic PH Grand Piano at the Danish Modern Museum in Copenhagen.
Boudoir mirror, 1945
Brass, and original mirror

diameter 50 cm - diameter 19 3/4 in

Manufactured by Louis Poulsen
Created in the late 1930s, the PH Boudoir mirror was designed to fit harmoniously with all kinds of interiors. This version in brass was produced in 1945. Featuring a backlit illumination, this wall mounted mirror provides a reflection of superior clarity while diffusing a comfortable and glare-free light.