Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen

POUL HENNINGSEN (Ordrup, Denmark, 1894 – Hillerød, 1967) for Louis Poulsen.
“PH Artichoke” pendant lamp, designed in 1958. Later edition.
White-lacquered metal and chrome-plated steel frame.
Marked and labeled Louis Poulsen, type 17026.
In very good condition, with slight signs of use.
Measurements: 72 cm in diameter.

The “PH Artichoke” lamp is one of Poul Henningsen’s most iconic designs and one of the great masterpieces of 20th-century Scandinavian lighting. Conceived in 1958 for the Langelinie Pavillonen restaurant in Copenhagen, it represents the culmination of the designer’s research into light distribution and the elimination of glare. Its structure consists of 72 metal leaves arranged in twelve tiers of six elements, carefully oriented to provide soft, indirect lighting.

Its distinctive silhouette, inspired by the arrangement of artichoke leaves, combines geometric precision with extraordinary visual lightness. The white finish of this piece accentuates the purity of its forms and allows one to appreciate the complex interplay of overlapping layers that defines the model. Now a true icon of Danish design, the “PH Artichoke” is still in production today and is featured in the collections of major international institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

Poul Henningsen was one of the leading figures in 20th-century Danish design and architecture. Beginning in 1924, he maintained a close collaboration with Louis Poulsen, developing innovative shade systems designed to improve the quality of artificial lighting. His first PH lamps gained international recognition at the 1925 Paris Exposition of Decorative Arts. His work, characterized by the integration of scientific and functional principles, is represented in institutions such as MoMA in New York and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.