Poul Henningsen Lighting
Danish, 1894-1967
The name Poul Henningsen is synonymous with the best and most innovative modern Scandinavian lamps and other lighting. The Danish designer created a signature vocabulary of fixtures with tiered and layered shades in sculptural arrangements that are at once naturalistic and geometric.
Henningsen grew up in a town on the outskirts of Copenhagen and studied architecture at the Technical University of Denmark. He would become a noted art critic, journalist and screenwriter, but his first love was lighting design.
Henningsen’s childhood home was illuminated by oil lamps. When his family switched to electrified lighting, he was alarmed and repelled by the harsh glare cast by an incandescent bulb, and in his late teens he began conducting quasi-scientific experiments to measure which materials and methods best diffused or reflected light to give it a warm brightness. His work came to the attention of the lighting-fixtures firm Louis Poulsen, which sponsored the development of a prototype lamp. The design won a gold medal at the 1925 Paris Expositions Internationales des Arts Decóratifs et Industriels Modernes — from which the term Art Deco derives. The lamp, whose three-part shade is said to be inspired by the arrangement of a dinner plate atop a soup bowl atop a teacup, became the basis for Henningsen’s most successful design, the PH 4/3 desk lamp.
All told, Henningsen would design some 100 lighting fixtures in his career. Some of his most notable creations are hanging lamps, which include the Septima (1929), a pendant composed of seven graduated frosted-glass layers; the Spiral (1942), made of a single ribbon of enameled aluminum; and the Artichoke lamp (1958), whose 70 glass or metal fins in a staggered and graduated arrangement on a central steel frame resemble those of its namesake. The last is likely Henningsen’s masterwork and an icon of mid-20th-century design. Like all Henningsen lighting designs, it is striking, sculptural and — thanks to his insistence on the primacy of the quality of the light cast — superbly functional.
Find a collection of authentic Poul Henningsen table lamps, floor lamps and other lighting on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Poul Henningsen
PH 5 white chandelier by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Brescia, IT
Designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, model PH 5 white with purple details. Denmark, 1960s.
Iconic PH 5 chandelier designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, 1960s Dani...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Midcentury "PH5" Pendant by Poul Henningsen, Danish Design, 1950s
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Lejre, DK
Pendant in painted metal, designed in 1958 by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark. Great original condition.
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Ceiling Lamp PH 4/4 Designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark, 1930
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Ceiling lamp PH 4/4 designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen,
Denmark. 1930's.
Nickel plated brass and original glass.
Measurements:
D: 40 cm/ 15 3/4''
Category
1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Brass
Midcentury "PH5" Pendant by Poul Henningsen, Made in Denmark
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Lejre, DK
Pendant in painted metal, designed in 1958 by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen Denmark. Great original condition.
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Danish brushed metal pendant light, "Charlottenborg" model by Poul Henningsen.
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Magnificent and iconic large Scandinavian pendant lamp called "Charlottenborg." Poul Henningsen's intention with this four-shade pendant lamp, as he called it when it was first desig...
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Small Glass Artichoke Chandelier by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, small glass Artichoke chandelier by Poul Henningsen.
Measures: Width 480 x height 570 x length 480(mm), 10.9 kg
Material:...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Outdoor Lamp in Black by Poul Henningsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, outdoor lamp in black by Poul Henningsen.
Measures: Width x height x length (mm)
283 x 909 x 283, 3.6 kg
Material: Black-lacquered stainless steel. Ground anchor: I...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Poul Henningsen Louvre Pendant by Louis Poulsen, Denmark
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Utrecht, NL
The Louvre pendant was originally designed by Poul Henningsen in 1957 for the Adventist church at Skodsborg Hydro Denmark upon request by the architect Charles Gjerrild who requested...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Louis Poulsen, Medium Glass Artichoke Chandelier by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, medium glass artichoke chandelier by Poul Henningsen.
Measures: Width x height x length (mm)
600 x 580 x 600, 17.3 kg
Mate...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Poul Henningsen “PH-5” Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen, Denmark, 1960s
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Utrecht, NL
This “PH-5” table lamp from the Danish “Master of Soft Light”, Poul Henningsen, is one of the designer’s most popular models, and is considered to be an icon of Scandinavian modern l...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Table Lamp in Browned Brass Frame by Poul Henningsen, 1931-1933
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Table Lamp in Browned Brass Frame by Poul Henningsen, 1931-1933
Additional Information:
Material: Browned brass frame. Amber coloured glass shades, froste...
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Glass
Louis Poulsen, Outdoor Wall Lamp in Cooper by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, outdoor wall lamp in cooper by Poul Henningsen
Size: Width x height x length (mm)
450 x 290 x 505, 6.8 kg
Shades: Spun copper. Wall box and arm: Copperplated, brass...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Poul Henningsen Early Table Lamp Model PH-2/2
Vintergækken
by Louis Poulsen
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare and early table lamp model PH-2/2 ‘Vintergækken’ designed by Poul Henningsen. Produced by Louis Poulsen in Denmark. Stamped D.R.P (Deutsche Reichs Patent).
Category
1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Pendantlamp Doo-Wop Light Brass by Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian pendant lamp Doo-Wop light brass by Louis Poulsen. Edition from 2013.
Category
1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Brass
Poul Henningsen Ceiling Lamp Produced by Louis Poulsen in Denmark
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare ceiling lamp designed by Poul Henningsen. Produced by Louis Poulsen in Denmark.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Large Glass Table Light by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, large glass table light by Poul Henningsen
Measures: Width x Height x Length (mm)
450 x 550 x 450, 9.3 kg
Material: Shades in mouth...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Medium Glass Table Light by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, medium glass table light by Poul Henningsen
Measures: Width x height x length (mm)
330 x 450 x 330, 3.0 kg
Material: Shade: Mouth-blown white opal glass Top plate: ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Medium Table Light by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, medium table light by Poul Henningsen
Measures: Width 290 x height 472 x length 290 (mm), 3.0 kg
Material: Shades in mouth-blown white opal glass with the body an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
$2,076 / item
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Pendant Lamp PH Artichoke by Poul Henningsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian pendant lamp PH Artichoke by Poul Henningsen. Ø 84 cm. Edition from the 70's. Some scratches on few leaves. E40 socket....
Category
1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Aluminum
Poul Henningsen Early Table Lamp Model PH-3/2 by Louis Poulsen in Denmark
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare and early table lamp model PH-3/2 designed by Poul Henningsen. Produced by Louis Poulsen in Denmark. Stamped “PAT. APPL.”.
Category
1920s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Nickel
Louis Poulsen, Metal Floor Light by Poul Henningsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, metal floor light by Poul Henningsen
Measures: Width x height x length (mm)
550 x 1315 x 550, 7.4 kg
Material: Shades: white opal acrylic and polycarbonate, stem in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
$2,017 / item
Louis Poulsen, Glass Floor Light by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, glass floor light by Poul Henningsen
Measures: Width 450 x height 1250 x length 450(mm), 15.5 kg
Material: Shades in mouth-blown white opal glass with top plate an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
$5,577 / item
PH 3 Pendant Light White
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in London, GB
Crafted and designed by the iconic Poul Henningsen for Denmark's leading light production house Louis Poulsen, this PH3 is made from aluminium and painted in the classic white shade....
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Aluminum
$876 / item
Midcentury "PH5" Pendant by Poul Henningsen, Danish Design, 1950s
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Lejre, DK
Pendant in painted metal, designed in 1958 by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark. Great original condition.
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Metal
1970s Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen Large Artichoke Pendant Lamp in White
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a PH-Artichoke pendant, initially designed by Danish architect and designer Poul Henningsen in 1957. This example dates to the 1970s and was produced by Louis Poulsen in Denm...
Category
1970s Danish Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Steel, Wire
Poul Henning for Poulsen Denmark, White PH Artichoke Ceiling Lamp 72 cm
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Renens, CH
Poul Henning for Poulsen Denmark, White PH Artichoke Ceiling Lamp 72 cm
The PH Artichoke was originally designed in 1958 by Poul Henningsen for a resta...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Aluminum
Straight Arm PH 4½/3 Copper Sconce by Poul Henningsen
By Poul Henningsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
A PH 4.5/3 outdoor sconce with a straight arm. The sconce is made from copper and has been restored so it is bright and shiny. The underside is painted white to reflect the light and...
Category
1960s Danish Modern Vintage Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Copper
Price Upon Request
Curved Arm PH 4½/3 Copper Sconce by Poul Henningsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
A PH 4.5/3 outdoor sconce with a gently curved arm. The sconce is made from copper and has been restored so it is bright and shiny. The underside is painted white to reflect the ligh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Poul Henningsen Lighting
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Price Upon Request
Poul Henningsen lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Poul Henningsen lighting are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Poul Henningsen lighting, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 239 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 306 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original lighting by Poul Henningsen were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider lighting by Fog
Mørup, Vilhelm Lauritzen, and Jo Hammerborg. Prices for Poul Henningsen lighting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $287 and can go as high as $81,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,880.
Creators Similar to Poul Henningsen
Questions About Poul Henningsen Lighting
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024Poul Henningsen is famous for designing innovative modern Scandinavian lamps and other lighting. The Danish designer created a signature vocabulary of fixtures with tiered and layered shades in sculptural arrangements that are at once naturalistic and geometric. Some of his most iconic pieces include the Spiral, made of a single ribbon of enameled aluminum, and the Artichoke lamp, whose 70 glass or metal fins in a staggered and graduated arrangement on a central steel frame resemble those of its namesake. Find a collection of Poul Henningsen lighting on 1stDibs.
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