Louis Poulsen
Denmark
1930s
Lacquered metal, opal glass
19″ diameter x 11″ high

Poul Henningsen was not primarily seeking beautiful form in his revolutionary design, but optimal quality of light. Nevertheless, the lamp he created after much trial and error in collaboration with Louis Poulsen achieves both results so perfectly that it has attained the status of design icon.

This example follows Henningsen’s three shade principle, but the metal top shade postdates the interior opal glass shades. The mix of materials gives it a distinctive appeal.

Top shade marked “PH-4” and “Patented.”