Louis Poulsen Ph 4½-3½ glass table lamp 24 cm white - chrome

Poul Henningsen designed the three-shade system in 1925-1926. The first lights to use this system were designed by Poul Henningsen in collaboration with Louis Poulsen for an exhibition in Paris. This collaboration continued until his death in 1967. Throughout his life, Poul Henningsen sought to achieve glare-free, direct lighting in the essential areas, creating soft shadows with incandescent bulbs as the light source. The PH 4½-3½ Glass Table is part of the 3-shade family that now comprises 30 lights, including three for outdoor use. Henningsen therefore did not just design a light, but an entire system: around a thousand different models were produced over the years. This large collection consisted of table, floor and wall lamps, as well as several chandeliers, which were very popular in the 1930s for lighting private homes with high ceilings. Numerous combination options were possible. The lights were available in different colours and sizes. The first shades were made of metal, with the underlying surface painted white, gold or silver, depending on whether the desired type of lighting was warm and inviting or cooler. Glass was later introduced into the three-shade system. In addition to directing light downwards, glass lamps illuminated the entire room. Henningsen was the first designer to take a scientific approach to lighting, using the lituus or logarithmic spiral as a basis. With this design, Henningsen was able to achieve an even distribution of light over the entire curve of the shade. This even distribution, together with the diffuse reflection through the glass, allowed glare and shadows to be controlled. Each shade reduces the amount of light by the same amount due to their distance from the light source. The model numbers of the PH lamp refer to the size of the shade. Each upper shade has a corresponding middle and lower shade. In “pure” models, such as the 2/2 model, the upper shade is approximately 20 cm wide, with corresponding lower shades. The PH 4½-3½ Glass Tavolo consists of an upper shade of approximately 45 cm, but the lower shades are those used in the 3½ model. These “hybrid” models were introduced so that pendant lamps could be hung at lower heights. The system was also used for wall, table and floor lamps. The PH 4½-3½ Glass Tavolo in its current form was introduced in 1990.

Lighting system

The fixture is designed on the principle of three reflective shades that direct most of the light downwards. The screens are made of hand-crafted three-layer opal glass, polished on top and sandblasted matt on the bottom to distribute a soft and diffused light.

Product details

Source 1x100W E27

More information

Material: blown opal white glass screens with polished chrome-plated brass and steel upper plate and body. Cable length: 2.7 m. Switch: in the base of the lamp. Cable type: black plastic with plug.

Dimensions and measurements

Dimensions (mm): 450 (Width) x 550 (height) x 450 (length)

Weight: 9.3 kg

Mounting

Cable type: PVC with plug. Cable length: 2.7m. On/off: switch integrated into the end of the lamp.

POUL HENNINGSEN

Poul Henningsen (1894-1967), a hugely influential Danish designer, architect, writer and cultural critic, had a huge impact on Danish thinking and design. His legacy as an original master of light is an integral part of Louis Poulsen's tradition of creating exceptional light.