Poul Henningsen

POUL HENNINGSEN, Poul (Denmark, 1894–1967).
PH-4/3 table lamp, patented in 1926.
Patinated brass, vintage single-layer opal glass shades, and a zinc top shade with original red and white paint.
No renovation, all original. Good vintage condition.
Measurements: 54 cm high; 40 cm in diameter.

The PH 4/3 is part of one of the most important lighting systems in the history of Scandinavian design. Its origins lie in the research that Poul Henningsen conducted during the 1920s to solve one of the major problems posed by the newly introduced electric lighting. Between 1925 and 1926, Henningsen, in collaboration with Louis Poulsen, developed his famous three-shade system, based on mathematical principles and the so-called lituus curve. The position and curvature of each shade were calculated to distribute light evenly, direct it where it was needed, and reduce glare. The significance of this approach lies in the fact that Henningsen did not simply design a lamp, but rather a complete lighting system. The name “4/3” refers precisely to the relative dimensions of the shades. In the PH 4/3 table lamp, the top shade corresponds approximately to size 4, while the lower shades are taken from the 3/3 system. This “hybrid” combination made it possible to adapt the system to different needs and scales. The table lamp version in its current configuration was introduced in 1966.
A Danish designer, architect, and critic, Poul Henningsen was one of the key figures in Denmark’s cultural life during the interwar period. He studied architecture from 1911 to 1917 but never graduated, as he decided to become an inventor and painter. Nevertheless, he went on to work 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 prevent glare and create a beautifully aesthetic effect. Its success allowed Henningsen to finance his later work. His work is currently represented at the Danish Museum of Art and Design, MoMA in New York, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, among many others.