Poul Henningsen, Jørstian and P.E.M.

POUL HENNINGSEN (Denmark, 1894 - 1967).
PH Kuglen/Louvre ceiling lamp.
Steel and lacquered metal.
Piece catalogued in T. Jørstian and P.E.M. Nielsen, "Tænd! PH-lampens historie", pp. 270-271 (Gylendals Bogklubber, 1994).
Measurements: 65 x 70 cm.
The PH Kuglen lamp (also known as Ph Louvre), designed in 1957 for Louis Poulsen, is exceptional not only for its anti-glare light, but also for its mathematical perfection. Henningsen designed it in such a way that each of its reflective surfaces receives light at exactly the same angle, thus creating uniform illumination without annoying glare. The upper part of each of the slats has a glossy finish, which makes the light shine through, while the lower part is matt lacquered to avoid glare. This is a design that visibly contributes to beautifying the architectural space in which it is placed. The overlapping sheets of lacquered metal that make up its screen use the hallmarks of light to avoid glare and create an aesthetic effect of great beauty; they redirect and reflect the light, resulting in a unique and distinctive illumination.
Danish designer, architect and critic, Poul Henningsen was one of the key figures in the cultural life of Denmark in the interwar period. He studied architecture between 1911 and 1917, but never graduated, as he decided to become an inventor and painter. Nevertheless, he worked as an architect and became one of the most prominent advocates of functionalism. In his career as a designer, his most famous creation was the "PH Artichoke" lamp, a simple lamp that used hallmarks of light to avoid glare and create an aesthetic effect of great beauty. Its success enabled Henningsen to finance his later work. He is currently representing at the Danish Museum of Art and Design, the MoMA in New York and the Victoria & Albert in London, among many others.