Poul Henningsen’s remarkable legacy in Danish design – particularly with Louis Poulsen – stems from a straightforward vision, but one that is too often overlooked: that the primary purpose of design is to make life better. It’s what led to the development of Henningsen’s revolutionary three-shade lamps in the 1920s – based on the anti-glare philosophy that has become the core of Louis Poulsen’s products through the decades.
The three-shade system was a response to the unfathomably bright atmosphere that entered Danish living spaces with the introduction of electric lighting in the late nineteenth century. Henningsen’s system, the genesis of the classic Louis Poulsen PH lamps, allowed a return to the much softer, non-glary light of candles, fireplaces and kerosene lamps.
Despite the cleanliness and convenience of electric light, there’s one thing the candle offered that the overhead incandescent bulb could not – a cosy glow anywhere you needed it. The PH system was developed into floor and table lamps, but taking those personalised light sources a step further, Henningsen also designed an adjustable floor lamp that would allow a warm, personalised light source to be present at just the height and angle one needs.
A moveable lever-like arm, reminiscent of the levers of traditional water pumps, is what earned the PH 3/2 Amber Coloured Glass Floor Lamp the additional title of The Water Pump. Designed in the 1950s and now available as a limited-edition collectors’ item, The Water Pump offers the anti-glare ingenuity of the PH three-shade system in warm amber-coloured glass, as well as personalised adjustability and control.
The light produced by The Water Pump is soft, diffuse and warm thanks to the amber-coloured glass of the mouth-blown shades. The majority of the glare-free light is directed downwards, but the distribution is diffuse thanks to the translucency of the shade. The glass is glossy on the outer surface of the shades and sandblasted matt on the underside, which creates a warm and inviting glow.
The untreated brushed brass stem, arm and base contribute to this warm character, as does the brown fabric cord. The switch design dates back to Henningsen’s 1927 table lamps. It’s positioned at the end of the arm, and the 2019 limited editions feature Henningsen’s initials engraved beneath the switch.
The Water Pump is available from Louis Poulsen until the end of 2019.
