Decorative - Pendant
Technical info p. XXX
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It is more than 60 years ago that
one of the world’s most well-known
and popular lamps first saw the light
of day. In 1958, the designer Poul
Henningsen completed work on the
PH 5 pendant, which in many ways
marked the pinnacle of his long career.
Since then, PH 5 has been an icon of
Danish design, and
a much-loved lamp that for
generations has illuminated countless
dining tables around
the world.
Poul Henningsen, otherwise known as PH, had a mission: He wanted to create
an electric lamp with pleasant, glare-free light. Taking this as his starting point, he
developed a lighting philosophy and numerous lamps that would go on to become
known worldwide. The first models were designed for the International Exhibition of
Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1924 in cooperation with Louis
Poulsen. PH revolutionised the way in which lamps were conceived by allowing
the shades to shield the light while directing it to where it was needed. His work
culminated in 1958 with the launch of the PH 5, which soon became a huge
success. But what was it that made this particular model so popular?
Good Light Rather Than Beautiful Lamps
PH’s main focus was not designing beautiful lamps, but creating the best, the most
pleasant and the most functional lighting. In developing many of his early models,
he came a long way in achieving his original mission. In particular, he developed
the famous three-shade system, which from the very beginning in 1926 was
designed so that you did not see the lamp’s incandescent filament from any angle.
PH adopted a scientific approach, and the crystal-clear light source made it easy to
follow the rays of light, and adjust the shades so that only indirect, reflected light was
emitted by the lamp.
In the 1950s, PH ran into a temporary technical challenge: A new type of opaque
incandescent source overran the market, replacing the original clear glass light
source. This meant that the light no longer came from a single point in the lamp, but
was instead emitted diffusely by the light source, making it harder to calculate the
paths of the rays, and control the light so that it was glare-free.
PH struggled with the problem for many years, and passionately argued in favour
of the outstanding qualities of the original light sources. But with little effect. So, in
connection with the launch of the PH 5, he wrote: “For ages, I’ve believed that what
consumers want and common sense would prevail, but now I’ve become a fatalist.
I yield to fate, and with Louis Poulsen’s permission have designed a PH lamp which
can take any sort of light source – a glow-worm, a Christmas candle or a 100-watt
metal filament bulb. However, a fluorescent tube in its present form is too long.”
Three-shade Fixture, Version 2.0
In the mid-1950s, PH started to work on the design of a new lamp which would
become the PH 5, and after a couple of years of development, it was launched in
1958. The first and most famous model was the pendant, which was followed a
short while later by some of the less well-known versions, among others a 200-watt
pendant for hanging from high ceilings as well as a desk lamp.
With its five visible concentric shades, the PH 5 was a successful development of the
three-shade lamps, combining good, downward lighting with a top shade for illuminating
the surrounding space. In order to achieve the ideal solution of glare-free lighting in
the PH 5, Poul Henningsen added two smaller shades to prevent unreflected light rays
from being emitted by the lamp. Moreover, he incorporated an upwards-facing top
shade, which distributed the light directly upwards in order to better illuminate the whole
room.
PH was particularly aware of the qualities of illumination, and understood the
importance of shadow as a necessary contrast to light. He defined four types of
illumination which must be there for a light fixture to be effective, and which he
designed most of his lamps to emit.
A PH 5 hanging above a dining table must firstly illuminate the table well so that you
can see the food or read the newspaper. The second type of illumination is weaker,
and is directed more diffusely out towards the perimeter of the table, so that the
people sitting at the table are illuminated by a soft and pleasant glow without any
hard facial shadows. The third type of illumination gently lights up the space beyond
the table, so that you can see the floor. Finally, the fourth type of illumination helps
to illuminate the room with a little uplight. PH 5 provides all four types of illumination
to perfection, and therefore produces extremely comfortable and functional lighting,
which largely explains the lamp’s enduring popularity.
PH worked out that the best way of creating soft shadows and illumination which
gradually faded the further away from the lamp you moved was by giving the lamp’s
shades a curvature that followed a logarithmic curve. In this way, the light is reflected
differently the further away from the light source it hits the shades, thus avoiding
harsh transitions in brightness. PH had also observed that the light being emitted
by the incandescent lamp was yellowish, which he compensated for in the PH 5 by
painting the internal parts in shades of red and blue. This finesse has no bearing on
the colour of the outer side of the shades, as it is only the colours on the inside of
the fixture housing which influence the colour of the illumination.
Unprecedented Influence on Danish Design
PH’s functionalistic approach and inherent common sense have had a huge impact
on all areas of Danish design – from furniture and architecture to fashion and
lifestyle. The Danish fashion designer and clothing manufacturer Mads Nørgaard
once said: “Inside any Danish designer is a PH lamp.” In other words, the Danish
fashion industry is influenced by PH’s bold innovation, and his determination to
deliver good and simple design at affordable prices. These are ideals which have
helped to secure Danish and Scandinavian design the international success and
attention it has been enjoying for decades.
There is no question that this is a design heavyweight which is celebrating a
landmark anniversary. For 60 years, the PH 5 has maintained its popularity, and is
today the best-selling Louis Poulsen lamp ever. It has won countless international
design awards, and design aficionados all over the world continue to seek out this
simple yet distinctive lamp when looking for comfortable and functional lighting for
their homes. The PH 5
is enjoying renewed interest following the introduction of a mini-version in seven new
colours in spring 2017. In 2018, we will build on this success by relaunching the
classic PH 5 in the same exquisite colour shades.
PH was a self-taught architect, and was particularly well-
known for his lamps and his system of constructing lamps and
shades
to shield the electric light. Over more than 30 years,
PH developed a wide range of lamp designs in close
collaboration with Louis Poulsen, which still has the pleasure
of manufacturing and marketing a large number of PH lamps
PH also designed houses and furniture, was head architect at
the Tivoli amusement park in Copenhagen, wrote numerous
op-eds, and became widely known in Denmark as the author
of many popular and socially critical revue songs.
