Dedication to exceptional light quality, craftsmanship, and design. That’s what makes each lamp from Louis Poulsen unique. In spring 2023, Louis Poulsen will celebrate its legacy by presenting a handpicked selection of the company’s finest icons, along with three stunning additions, both to those who know the timeless design pieces—and to those who have yet to discover them.
Louis Poulsen icons light up every setting in more ways than one. Generation after generation, these classic design pieces have blended tastefully into a variety of surroundings and created ambiance, irrespective of the decade or current interior trends. Now, the time has come to (re)discover these masterpieces.
Nine iconic lamps will be presented this spring—two of which are exciting new introductions, while one is a significant reintroduction. (Re)discover the PH 3/2 Table Lamp, AJ Floor Lamp, PH 5, PH Artichoke, Panthella, PH 80, the reintroduced AJ Oxford Table Lamp, the new AJ Garden Bollard, and the new Patera Ø300, here.
The PH 3/2 Table Lamp dates back to 1927. It is based on Poul Henningsen’s well-known three-shade-system, which he developed just one year before—and upon which he later based hundreds of lamp designs. Even today, the PH 3/2 Table creates exceptional glare-free lighting while providing a soft and pleasant atmosphere.
Arne Jacobsen’s AJ Floor lamp from 1957 has become as iconic as the total work of art for which he designed it, the Copenhagen SAS Royal Hotel (Radisson Collection), which is recognized by many as the world’s first design hotel. The AJ lamp series is thought to be his best-known design worldwide with its characteristic straight lines, combination of oblique and right angles, and elegant downwardly directed light. The brand new AJ Garden Bollard is an exciting addition to the AJ series, taking the sophisticated design outdoors and providing exceptional light, perfect for wayfinding.
1958 was an outstanding year for Poul Henningsen. Not only did he introduce the PH 5 pendant in collaboration with Louis Poulsen, but he also designed the PH Artichoke based on his seven-shade glass crown, PH Septima. The PH 5 and the PH Artichoke are among his most renowned works, and both feature in the icons campaign.
A wonderful reintroduction in the spring of 2023 is the AJ Oxford Table Lamp, which Arne Jacobsen designed for the modernist St. Catherine’s College in Oxford, England in the 1960s. It is perhaps his most highly praised total work of art, and it is still used for teaching and student housing. Form playfully follows function in the AJ Oxford Table lamp, where the stem becomes the stand and the cord continues the visual line, with the sculptural shade balancing the expression. The AJ Oxford Table will be reintroduced in two different heights and with or without the metal top shade, for impeccable and charismatic lighting everywhere in the home—from a home office desk to a windowsill to a bedside table.
In 1971, Verner Panton created one of his most iconic designs when he designed the Panthella. With its organic shape, which mirrors the softest of light, it reflects his larger-than-life personality and was one of the Danish designer’s favorites. In fact, he had several versions of it in his family home in Basel, Switzerland.
Poul Henningsen would have celebrated his 80th birthday in 1974. To mark the occasion, Louis Poulsen created the classic PH 80 Floor Lamp in his memory. Just as most of his lamps were, the PH 80 Floor Lamp was also based on System PH and serves as a continuation of his work and scientific approach to lighting. This is further emphasized by the PH 80’s red top reflector, which softens the color of the light—an important aspect of his lighting design.
This carefully selected collection of Louis Poulsen icons is rounded off with the introduction of the smallest version of Patera yet. The Patera in a diameter of 300 mm follows the design of the original Patera, which Øivind Slaatto designed in 2015 as a reinterpretation of the classic chandelier. He based his design on the mathematics of the Fibonacci sequence, resulting in a mesmerizing interplay between light and shadow that animates its surroundings.
These distinct icons will be available in stores, on louispoulsen.com, in Louis Poulsen Showrooms, and at D-studio from February 2023.
About Louis Poulsen
Founded in 1874, the Danish lighting manufacturer Louis Poulsen creates products that encompass the duality of design and light. Every detail in the design has a purpose. Every design starts and ends with light. Louis Poulsen offers a range of lighting aimed at the commercial and domestic lighting markets, with lighting fixtures and solutions for both indoor and outdoor applications. In close partnership with designers, architects, and other talents like Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, Vilhelm Lauritzen, Øivind Slaatto, Olafur Eliasson, Oki Sato and Anne Boysen, Louis Poulsen has established itself as one of the key global suppliers of architectural and decorative lighting. The company has a global presence with showrooms in Copenhagen, Miami, Oslo, Singapore, Tokyo, and Dusseldorf.