PH 4/3 Table Lamp

Poul Henningsen developed his three-shade system in 1925/26, with the first models created together with Louis Poulsen and presented in Paris. Their collaboration continued until Henningsen’s death in 1967. His lifelong mission was to create glare-free light with soft shadows and precise direction.

The PH 4/3 table lamp belongs to this extensive three-shade family. Henningsen didn’t design single lamps but an entire modular system that eventually included around a thousand variations — table, floor, wall, and chandelier versions in numerous sizes and colours. Early metal shades had white, gold, or silver interiors to achieve diffuse, warm, or cool light; later, glass shades allowed light to be cast both downward and into the room.

Henningsen was the first to study light scientifically, using the logarithmic spiral to achieve even distribution and controlled reflections. The numbers in each model name refer to the diameter of the shade segments. In the PH 4/3, the top segment measures 40 cm, combined with two smaller segments from the 3/3 model — originally created so pendant lamps could hang lower.

The PH 4/3 table lamp in its present form was introduced in 1966.