Poul Henningsen, table lamp PH 4/3 pat appl, 1927

POUL HENNINGSEN (Denmark, 1894 - 1967).
Table lamp PH 4/3 pat appl, 1927.
Gilt brass and copper shades.
Exhibits wear marks and light wear to the back of the large lampshade.
Copper lampshades later painted green.
Measurements: 55 cm (height); 40 cm (diameter).

Belonging to Poul Henningsen's iconic PH series (started in 1926), the PH 4/3 lamp is a representative "hybrid" model. Its design is based on a scientifically modeled three-shade reflector system (following the lituus curve), which aims to offer a controlled, soft and glare-free light distribution, optimized for low hanging on tables.

The PH 4/3 model, in particular, uses an upper shade of approximately 40 cm in diameter (hence the "4" in "4/3") combined with the lower shades of the 3/3 model, allowing it to adapt to more contained installation heights, ideal for tabletops rather than high suspensions.

Henningsen established that the electrical light source should be hidden to avoid direct glare. To achieve this, he developed a system of concentric shades that distribute the light in a controlled manner by reflection.

The screens are designed following the mathematical "lituus" curve or logarithmic spiral, so that the distance from each surface to the light source is calculated to determine the balance between direct and diffuse reflection. Thanks to this geometry, only a small part of the light is allowed to pass through the screens, while most of it is directed towards the work or reading area.

The result is a light that illuminates comfortably, without casting harsh shadows or being visually discomforting, making the PH 4/3 an ideal lamp for reading, working or as an elegant ambient spotlight.

Danish designer, architect and critic, Poul Henningsen was one of the key figures in Danish cultural life in the interwar period. He studied architecture between 1911 and 1917, but never graduated, as he decided to become an inventor and painter. Nevertheless, he worked as an architect and became one of the most prominent advocates of functionalism. In his career as a designer, his most famous creation was the "PH Artichoke" lamp, a simple lamp that used hallmarks of light to avoid glare and create an aesthetic effect of great beauty. Its success enabled Henningsen to finance his later work. He is currently representing at the Danish Museum of Art and Design, the MoMA in New York and the Victoria & Albert in London, among many others.