Louis Poulsen Ph 3/2 Academy chandelier 68 cm white chrome

The collaboration between Poul Henningsen and Louis Poulsen began in 1925-1926 when Henningsen designed his first luminaires 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 essential areas, creating soft shadows with incandescent bulbs as the light source. PH 3/2 Academy is part of the 3-shade family that now comprises 30 lamps, including three for outdoor use. Henningsen therefore did not just design a lamp, but an entire system: around a thousand variations 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 lamps were available in different colours and materials, as well as numerous sizes. The first shades were made of metal, with the underside painted white, gold or silver, depending on whether the desired 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 3/3 model, the upper shade is approximately 30 cm wide, with corresponding lower shades. The PH 3/2 Academy consists of three lights with 30 cm upper shades, but the lower shades are those used in the 2/2 model. These “hybrid” models were introduced to allow pendants to be hung at lower heights. The PH Academy currently in production was launched in 2000.

Lighting system

The three lights on the fixture are designed on the principle of a three-reflective shade system that directs most of the light downwards. The screens are made of three-layer blown opal glass, polished on the upper part and sandblasted satin on the lower part and offer a soft and diffused light distribution.

Product details

Source 3x40W E14

More information

Material: blown opal white glass screens and polished chrome-plated brass body and pendant unit. Ceiling rose: yes Cable length: 4 m Cable type: black fabric

Dimensions and measurements

Dimensions (mm):680 (Width) x 345 (height) x 680 (length) Weight:6.4 kg

Mounting

Suspension type: 2x0.75mm² cable. Ceiling rose: included. Cable length: 4m.

POUL HENNINGSEN

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