PH 4/4 ‘Pulley’ ceiling lamp designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark, 1926-1928.

Red and bronzed copper shades.

Provenance: Alvar and Aino Aalto

Aino and Alvar Aalto crossed paths with Poul Henningsen during their visit to Copenhagen in 1928, and a strong friendship developed between them.

Upon settling into their recently constructed apartment in the Maalaistentalo building, they acquired a striking red ceiling lamp designed by Henningsen. Aino Aalto showcased these PH lamps in an article discussing the Aalto residence, which appeared in The Architect magazine in 1929.

In 1936, when the Aalto family relocated to their new residence at Riihitie 20 in Helsinki, they decided to hang the same eye-catching red PH lamp above their dining table. This iconic red PH light fixture is visible in the attached photograph, taken by Aino during a family breakfast in 1941.

Table lamp PH 4/3 designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark, 1927.

Lacquered copper shades and frame of bronzed brass.

Stamped Pat. Appl.

The lamp's design is marked by its deep green shades on the outside. These colors are not just aesthetic choices but are central to the lamp's function, as they aid in providing a glare-free, ambient light. The green hue is particularly noteworthy, exuding an organic warmth that is both sophisticated and timeless.

Dating back to 1927, this particular piece features an early design stamp stating "Pat Appl," indicating it is from an initial production run before the patent was finalized.

Table lamp PH 4/3 designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark, 1927.

Brass and copper.

Stamped Pat. Appl.

Provenance: From a private Danish collection.

Designed in 1927, this PH 4/3 table lamp is stamped ‘pat appl’, designating it as one of the earliest examples to be produced. This stamp was only used on the PH 4/3 within the first two years of its design.

From 1929, they were instead stamped ‘patented’. Henningsen’s famous lamps with a three-shade system range from small to large and are available in different types.

The very early PH-shades were produced in white frosted glass, amber-coloured glass, or lacquered copper – the last two being the most desirable. The white shades were produced in milk glass in the 1920s and early 1930s but never produced again after that, as they were soon replaced by cased glass.

Chandelier ‘Pulley’ designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen,

Denmark. 1931.

Nickel-plated brass and original frosted painted glass.

Provenance: From a private Danish collection.

This example made in the mid 1930s.

Henningsen’s famous lamps with a three-shade system became known as PH-lamps and were manufactured by Louis Poulsen, with whom Henningsen built a lifelong working relationship after presenting their famous Paris Lamp at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris (and winning the prize).

The PH-shades were produced in milk glass in the 1920s and early 1930s but never produced again after that, as they were soon replaced by cased glass. The milk glass shades have a solid white colour, as opposed to cased glass, which consists of two or sometimes three different layers of glass.

"He worked with exceptional mathematical precision and was sometimes referred to as 'the first lighting architect', a title that is evident in the flawless execution of his designs." —Andrew Duncanson