Panthella 250: The impossible made possible
Harnessing modern technology, Louis Poulsen have revamped Verner Panton’s 1971 design with remarkable results…
In 1971, Verner Panton designed the Panthella Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen, wanting to create a light where both the foot and the shade served as a light reflector, creating the ideal illumination for a space. Although hoping to create a glossy product with an all-metal finish - due to technological barriers at the time, the Panthella was made in acrylic instead.
Now, 45 years on, it has been released in metal in line with Verner Panton’s original design specification.
Symbolising an era
The 1971 Panthella became a symbol of the era’s colourful iconography and is demonstrative of the designer’s experimentation with material, shape, and spatial concepts.
Indeed, Panton’s quirky designs were known for breaking convention, but from today’s perspective have become symbolic of the era's style. We can see this when looking back on his work for the Visiona exhibition, a boat transformed by designers to exhibit contemporary living space concepts. By utilising textiles and lighting, Panton broke physical boundaries and became a pioneer for the geometric patterns and bold colours associated with 1960s and 1970s interior and fashion design.
True to the originals
Louis Poulsen have paid close attention to Panton’s design ethos and style for the Panthella 250 Table Lamp.
Available in a bold orange finish the Panthella 250 brings a splash of colour to the original design - this makes the Panthella perfect for almost any interior. It could be used to add colour to an otherwise minimalistic setting, or even as a playful addition to a children’s bedroom. For those that want a more neutral piece, the mini is also available in white, black and opal acrylic. Their equally glossy finishes will reflect light and create a subtle lift to any room.
Staying true to its name, the Panthella 250 measures in at 25cm, just over half the size of the standard Panthella Table Lamp. Further utilising technology, it has an energy-saving LED with three different intensity settings.
Design updates
True to Verner Panton’s original vision for an all-metal Panthella, the compact 250 version is now also available in both a shining, high-lustre chrome and brass metallised finish. Playfully mirroring and distorting their surroundings, these reflective finishes become an even more integral part of their space, engaging with the things around them.
It is clear that whilst the Panthella 250 has a fresh and technologically advanced design, it beautifully incorporates the rebellious and evocative imagination of Panton, embodied in the original 1971 Panthella.
In 2021, Louis Poulsen also introduced a new medium-sized Panthella - the Panthella 320 Table Lamp. This 32cm diameter table lamp sits directly between the classic Panthella 400 Table Lamp and the Panthella 250 Table Lamp. With a portable version also recently added to the collection - there’s a size for everyone!
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