The cleverly concealed light source emits light outwards, diffused through the 72 “leaves”. An international design icon for deserved reasons, its lasting legacy is down to unique design, expert craftsmanship, and Poul Henningsen’s mastery of light. Originally intended for Copenhagen’s Langelinie Pavilion, the Louis Poulsen PH Artichoke Pendant Lamp was designed to look sculptural even when turned off, enhancing the building’s impressive Modernist aesthetic.
Poul Henningsen is an integral figure in lighting design and architecture, whose revolutionary views on the utilisation of light in the home led to a number of ground-breaking designs.
Collaborating with Louis Poulsen in 1924/25, Henningsen produced the first version of the seminal PH multi-shade lamp, a classic piece of modern lighting design, featuring separate elements which are shaped and assembled in such a way that the bulb is covered and light is directed downward, creating a soft, diffused effect.
Henningsen was aware of the importance of light in urban life, but sought a way to subdue the harshness of electric light while harnessing its mood-altering properties, believing that the aesthetic of an interior is highly dependent on how light is used.
