Louis Poulsen Ph 3½-2½ terra floor lamp 33 cm white brass

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 3½-2½ Terra is part of the 3-shade family that today 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 3½-2½ Terra consists of an upper shade of approximately 35 cm and lower shades. These “hybrid” models were introduced to allow pendant lamps to be hung at lower heights. The system was also used for floor lamps, table lamps and wall lamps. The PH 3½-2½ Terra in its current form was introduced in 2002.

Lighting system

The luminaire is designed according to the principle of three reflective shades that direct most of the light downwards. The screens are made of three-layer blown opal glass, shiny on the upper part and sandblasted opaque on the lower part in order to distribute a soft and diffused light.

Product details

Source 1x70W E27

More information

Material: blown opal white glass screens with brass stem and base; Metallic brass. Cable length: 2.5 m Switch: on the cable. Cable type: white plastic with socket.

Dimensions and measurements

Dimensions (mm):330 (Width) x 1300 (height) x 330 (length)

Weight:7.3 kg

Mounting

Cable type: PVC with plug. Cable length: 2.5m. On/Off: On/Off switch on the cord.

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 the Louis Poulsen tradition of creating exceptional light.