Pendant Lamp PH 4/3 – Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen — Denmark, 1960s

Few lamps in the history of design are as enduring as the PH series by Poul Henningsen. First developed in the 1920s and refined over decades, the tiered shade system was conceived to eliminate glare entirely — every layer carefully calculated so that no matter the angle, the bulb is never directly visible. The result is light that is soft, warm and extraordinarily flattering. It is no coincidence that the PH lamp remains in production to this day.

This example is the PH 4/3, produced by Louis Poulsen in the 1960s, and it is in excellent condition. The off-white lacquered aluminium shades are clean and unmarked, with only the most minor signs of age. The lamp is in full working order and carries its original Louis Poulsen labels. Most significantly, it retains its original orange inner diffuser — a small but vital component that is very frequently missing on lamps of this age, and whose warm glow is an important part of the lamp’s character when lit.

An absolute classic of 20th century lighting design, in a condition that is hard to find.