Louis Poulsen pendant lamp aluminum PH 5

The PH 5 pendant luminaire, introduced in 1958, is an example par excellence for Henningsen’s lighting system. Regardless of whether it is suspended high in the room or low above a table, it will never dazzle – whichever light source you choose. The PH 5 owes its name to its largest shade segment measuring an impressive 50 cm in diameter and directs most of the emitted light downwards; the trumpet-shaped upper component, however, also emits some of the light to the sides, indirectly illuminating the surroundings. Pressed from aluminium discs, the shade segments get a thorough powder-coating. Finally, the lamp manufacturer applies a wet-painted finish on the outside by hand.

The lamps of the Danish manufacturer Louis Poulsen have been a benchmark for decades. They owe their development to the ground-breaking work of Poul Henningsen (1894–1967). After giving up his studies as an architect, he began working as a freelancer in the field of functional architecture. He followed his vision of creating an ideal lamp, a lamp that would provide completely non-reflective, indirect light and, at the same time, offer an efficient light yield. He was able to achieve this aim by cooperating with Louis Poulsen. The partnership began in 1925 and lasted until his death. Henningsen performed pioneering work concerning light structures, shades, reflection and light projection. In short, his work laid the foundation for the perception of light Louis Poulsen adheres to and set the framework for manufacturing lamps down to the present day.