PH 2/1 Pendant Light by Louis Poulsen -10 %

Poul Henningsen designed the three-shade system as early as 1925–1926. PH designed the first lamps to incorporate this system in collaboration with Louis Poulsen for an exhibition in Paris. This partnership lasted until his death in 1967. Throughout his life, PH strove to create glare-free light, direct light where it was most needed, and produce soft shadows—using incandescent bulbs as the light source. The PH 2/1 pendant lamp belongs to the family of three-shade lamps, which today comprises 30 models, including three for outdoor use. PH thus designed not just a single lamp, but an entire system—over the years, around a thousand different models were produced. This wide selection included table, floor, and wall lamps, as well as a range of different chandeliers, which were very popular in the 1930s for illuminating private homes with high ceilings. There were countless possible combinations. The lamps were available in various colors and a range of sizes. The first shades were made of metal with a painted underside—for example, in white, gold, or silver—depending on whether diffuse, warm, or cool light was desired. Later, glass was introduced for the three-shade system. In addition to the downward-directed light, the glass shades illuminated the room. PH was the first to take a scientific approach to light, using the logarithmic spiral as a basis. By employing a design based on the logarithmic spiral, he achieved uniform light distribution across the entire curve of the lampshade.