PH 3 1/2 - 3 Wall Lamp by Louis Poulsen
Louis Poulsen has been synonymous with exceptional lighting design for decades. Louis Poulsen, a name that resonates with elegance and innovation, brings forth the PH 3 1/2 - 3 Wall Lamp, a timeless piece crafted by the legendary Danish designer Poul Henningsen.
Designer by Poul Henningsen: The highly influential Danish designer, architect, writer, and cultural critic, Poul Henningsen (1894-1967), has had a huge impact on Danish thinking and design. His legacy as the original master of light is an integrated part of Louis Poulsen’s heritage of creating exceptional light.
Design to Last: Designed to provide exceptional light, our lamps are crafted from high-quality materials and made to last a lifetime.
About the Product: Poul Henningsen designed the three-shade system back in 1925-1926. The first lights using the system were designed by PH in cooperation with Louis Poulsen for an exhibition in Paris. This partnership continued up until his death in 1967.
Throughout his life, PH sought to create glare-free light, direct light where it was most needed, and create soft shadows, using incandescent bulbs as a light source. PH 3/2½ Wall is a member of the three-shade family which numbers 30 lights today, including three for outdoor use. Thus PH did not just design a light, but an entire system – around a thousand different models have been produced over the years.
This wide selection consisted of table, floor and wall lamps, as well as a number of different chandeliers, which were very popular in the 30s for lighting private homes from high ceilings. There were countless combination options. The lights were available in different colors, as well as a range of sizes.
The first shades were made of metal with a painted undersurface, such as white, gold or silver – depending on whether diffuse, warm or cold light was desired. Glass was later introduced for the three-shade system. In addition to the downward-directed light, glass lamps illuminated the room.
PH was the first person to pursue a scientific approach to light and use the logarithmic spiral as a basis. By using a design based on the logarithmic spiral he achieved even distribution of light over the entire curve of the shade. This even light distribution, together with the diffuse reflection through the glass, made it possible to control glare and shadow.
Each shade reduces the amount of light equally, due to their distance from the light source. The PH light model numbers refer to the shade size. Each top shade had a corresponding set of middle and lower shades. In the ‘pure’ models, such as the 2/2, the top shade has a size of about 20 cm, with corresponding lower shades.
PH 3/2½ Wall consists of an approximately 30 cm top shade, but uses lower shades from the 2½ model. These ‘hybrid’ models were introduced due to the desire to hang pendants at lower heights. The system was also used for wall, floor, and table lamps. PH 3/2½ Wall was introduced in 2005.
The fixture is designed based on the principle of a reflective three-shade system, which directs the majority of the light downwards. The shades are made of metal and painted white to ensure uniform, comfortable light distribution.
Finish: Black, powder-coated.
Louis Poulsen continues to redefine lighting design with pieces like the PH 3 1/2 - 3 Wall Lamp, combining functionality, elegance, and innovation seamlessly. Explore more from Louis Poulsen's exquisite collection here.
