2018 marks 60 years since Danish designer Poul Henningsen gave the world the iconic PH 5, PH Artichoke, and PH Snowball lights, redefining modern illumination.
The 1958 launch of the Poul Henningsen trio of lights changed the game of 20th century illumination. To celebrate 60 years of these collections, Louis Poulsen has released the PH Artichoke in brushed brass and the PH 5 and PH 5 Mini in polished copper, for the first time in their colourful history.
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The special edition PH5 and PH Artichoke, as well as the PH Snowball in white aluminium, will be available from Cult showrooms across Australia and New Zealand from November.
A life-long collaborator with Louis Poulsen, it was Poul Henningsen’s intention to create the best, most pleasant and most functional lighting, rather than simply a beautiful lamp. It is this philosophy that cemented Poul Henningsen as a Master of Light, and one that remains integral to Louis Poulsen’s work in shaping light and relationships between light structures, shadows and glare.
The design of the PH Snowball, PH5 and PH Artichoke in 1958 marked the pinnacle of Poul Henningsen’s long career and continue to hold iconic status in the Louis Poulsen collection.
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Originally designed for the Langelinie Pavillonen restaurant in Copenhagen, where it still hangs today, the sculptural PH Artichoke quickly drew attention with its unique, organic form – and its ability to instantly create elegance and ambience within the space it occupies. Keeping the source of light hidden within its layers of seventy-two leaves, the pendant creates soft, glare-free illumination.
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The PH Artichoke has been manufactured in metallic editions since its inception, but this is the first time the previously only custom-made brushed brass is becoming widely available, giving the familiar form a new expression and inviting the classic into a wider array of interiors.
Available from November 2018, this special edition will be engraved with Henningsen’s signature – PH Artichoke – 1958-2018 – Anniversary Edition, and a unique number.
An icon of Danish design, the PH5 is a lamp that for generations has illuminated countless dining tables, restaurants and offices around the world. Providing 100% glare-free light, the PH 5 features Henningsen’s celebrated three-shade system, emitting both downward and lateral light.
In celebration of Henningsen’s iconic form, the special edition PH 5 and the PH 5 Mini are available from November 2018 and pair copper shades with white tiers. With the warm, mirror-like copper elegantly reflecting its surroundings, the pendant interacts beautifully with varied interiors, becoming a visually engaging, elegant and unifying focal point, whether turned on or off.
The PH Snowball, too, has existed since 1958, when it was exhibited alongside the PH 5 at the Danish Museum of Decorative Art. However, it was not until 1983 that the PH Snowball gained the attention of its counterparts and went into production.
Emitting a comfortable glare-free diffuse light, the PH Snowball features matt painted under surfaces and glossy top surfaces which result in an attractive reflection of the diffused light, creating uniform light distribution around the fixture. In keeping with its name, the PH Snowball is remaining available in classic white.
The Louis Poulsen range of Poul Henningsen 60th anniversary lights are available in Australia through Cult.
