POUL HENNINGSEN, 1958
Object
The PH 5 pendant lamp is a significant object in the history of design. Born out of a technical need rather than an aesthetic desire, Poul Henningsen’s PH 5 is a Scandinavian design icon and one of the most important pendant lamps in design history.
Designed by Poul Henningsen in 1958, the PH5 pendant was created in response to the continuous changes in the shape and size of incandescent bulbs. Henningsen designed a suspension lamp that could be used with any type of light bulb available on the market at the time.
The Principles of the PH Design: Light for a Better Quality of Life
In addition to addressing this need, the iconic design of the PH5 is based on Henningsen’s three-shade system, which ensures soft, pleasant, and completely glare-free light.
Henningsen’s system directs most of the light downward while also emitting lateral light that illuminates the lamp internally, resulting in a soft glow from its core. Finally, the lower shade is equipped with a frosted glass diffuser to ensure that the light directed downward is entirely glare-free.
Thanks to this system, Henningsen designed a lamp that provided light very similar to natural daylight, which is scarce in Scandinavian countries for much of the year. For this reason, it was important for the Danish designer to create lighting that would accompany people through the dark months of the year with a natural, soft, and friendly light—one that could enhance the quality of life.
Following these principles, the PH 5 was initially equipped with red and blue shades to improve the color of the light. These were later removed, because light sources now reproduce daylight much more effectively than in 1958.
PH5 Pendant in Museums
For over 60 years, the PH 5 has been one of the most iconic and respected lamps in the world of design, admired both for its functionality and its aesthetic impact.
A milestone in the world of lighting and design history, it is part of the collections of numerous prestigious design museums worldwide. Among these are the MoMA in New York, the Centre Pompidou, the Met, the Art Institute of Chicago, and many others.
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Details
Louis Poulsen
The original version of the PH5 lamp by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen is available on Finnishdesignshop.com >
The dimensions of the PH5 pendant lamp are:
- Diameter: 50 cm
- Height: 26.7 cm
- Shades and anti-glare disc made of spun aluminum, spun copper, or drawn brass.
- Mounting system: rolled aluminum.
