PH 5 Mini

Description

The fixture provides 100% glare-free light, utilizing a reflective three-shade system that directs most light downwards while also emitting lateral illumination. Designed by Poul Henningsen in 1958, the PH 5 was created in response to changing bulb shapes and sizes, named for its 50 cm main shade diameter. Henningsen expressed his skepticism about bulb manufacturers' understanding of consumer needs, stating he designed the PH fixture to accommodate various light sources, including Christmas lights and 100W metal filament bulbs.

While a fluorescent tube may be impractical, the PH 5 has become synonymous with glare-free lighting, regardless of installation or light source. Today, the PH 5 continues to enhance modern interiors, alongside the PH 5 Mini, introduced in 2017 with a 30 cm top shade diameter. To cater to contemporary living, Louis Poulsen resized the iconic pendant for the first time. In 2020, the PH 5 Mini Monochrome series was launched, featuring matte painted metal shades in black, white, and bold ultra blue for a modern aesthetic.

Details

Made In: Denmark
Design Year: 1958

Material Description

• Light source: 1x20W E14
  
• Material: white matt lacquered aluminum
  
• Anti-glare shade: blue
  
• Struts: purple, rolled aluminum
  
• Canopy: Provided
  
• Cord length: 3 m
  
• Cord type: White fabric

Dimensions

Size: W300 x H163 x L300 mm
Weight: 0.9kg

Designer

Poul Henningsen, 1925-1926

The very influential Danish designer, architect, writer, and cultural critic, Poul Henningsen (1894-1967), has had a huge impact on Danish thinking and design. His legacy is an integrated part of Louis Poulsen’s endeavor to shape light.

Poul Henningsen was born in Copenhagen in 1894 as the son of the Danish writers Agnes Henningsen and Carl Ewald. He started practicing traditional functionalist architecture, but over the years his professional interests changed to focus mainly on lighting, which is what he is most famous for.

He also expanded his field of occupation into areas of writing, becoming a journalist and an author. For a short period at the beginning of WWII, he was the head architect of the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. But like many other creative people, he was forced to flee Denmark during the German occupation but soon became a vital part of the Danish colony of artists living in Sweden.

His lifelong collaboration with Louis Poulsen began in 1925 and lasted until his death. To this day, Louis Poulsen still benefits from his genius. Poul Henningsen was also the first editor of the company magazine “NYT”. The CEO of Louis Poulsen at the time, Sophus Kaastrup-Olsen, gave the magazine to PH as a gift because he had been terminated from the Danish newspaper he worked for (his opinions were too radical).

Poul Henningsen's pioneering work concerning the relations between light structures, shadows, glare, and color reproduction—compared to man’s need for light remains the fondation of the lighting theories still practiced by Louis Poulsen.

Brand

In 1924, Poul Henningsen created his influential Paris lamp for Louis Poulsen, and the origin of how we still design to shape light can directly be traced back to his views on the dualities of design and light.

Founded in 1874, Louis Poulsen is a Danish lighting manufacturer born out of the Scandinavian design tradition where form follows function. The function and design of our products are tailored to reflect and support the rhythm of natural light. Every detail in the design has a purpose. Every design starts and ends with light.

We believe in passionate craftsmanship that produces quality lighting and design products that are pleasing to the eye and to the light.

In close partnership with designers, architects and other talents like Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, Øivind Slaatto, Alfred Homann, Oki Sato and Louise Campbell, we have established ourselves as one of the key global suppliers of architectural and decorative lighting. Defying traditional product categories, our products serve and span the professional and private lighting markets for both indoor and outdoor applications.