Louis Poulsen is world-renowned as an innovator in modern Danish lighting, but this wasn’t the goal from the start. Founded in 1874 by Ludvig R. Poulsen as a wine importer, the business went through several incarnations before its first pendant lights came to fruition. Through its designs, the company helped establish the foundations of good lighting — function, comfort and ambience — that are now standard in modern furniture design.
In 1924, Danish architect Poul Henningsen partnered with Louis Poulsen & Co., then an electrical supply company, to create what’s now known as the Paris lamp. This design, which incorporated three layers of curved metal disks, created ambience with its indirect light instead of glare. Shown at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris — the exhibition that brought Art Deco design to worldwide attention — the Paris lamp was awarded a gold medal. This led to Poulsen and Henningsen working together on several lighting pieces, including the popular PH pendant light with its concentric shades for the Forum Building in Copenhagen. These high-profile projects helped make Louis Poulsen a go-to purveyor of innovative lighting design.
One of the company’s most well-known lamps is Henningsen’s PH Artichoke lamp (1958), with its 72 copper leaves artfully placed to conceal the light bulb, prevent glare and promote a warm, alluring glow in any room. Another is the steel and die-cast zinc AJ lamp (1960), which Arne Jacobsen designed with an adjustable angled shade for his commission for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. The company has also worked with notables such as Verner Panton and Alfred Homann as well as, more recently, Louise Campbell and Oki Sato.
In 2010, the company was awarded the American Institute of Architects’ Honors in Collaborative Achievement Award; it was the first lighting manufacturer to receive this honor. In 2018, the company was acquired by an investment subsidiary of Investindustrial VI L.P.
Still headquartered in Denmark, the brand continues to produce its high-end lighting for both indoor and outdoor use, manufacturing both classic icons as well as new designs. “We design to shape light,” states Louis Poulsen. In doing so, they have also shaped culture.
Find a range of new and vintage Louis Poulsen floor lamps, table lamps and other lighting and furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Pendant Lamp Doo-Wop Chrome by Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian pendant lamp Doo-Wop chrome by Louis Poulsen. Original edition. Originally introduced in the 1950s. Was designed in close cooperation between the Navy...
Aluminum
Mid-Century Modern Louis Poulsen Industrial Lights, Denmark, 1985
By Louis Poulsen
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pair of Louis Polsen industrial lights. In one plastic cap is a crack. There are traces of rust on the lamp. Total height 90 cm.
Metal
$272Sale Price / item|15% Off
Nendo 'Tomoshi' White Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen
By Oki Sato, Nendo, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Nendo 'Tomoshi' White Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen Designed by the acclaimed Nendo Studio in Japan, the 'Tomoshi' (Japanese for "light") is a new offering in Louis...
Leather, Plastic
$272Sale Price / item|15% Off
Nendo 'Tomoshi' Dark Brown Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Nendo, Oki Sato
Located in Glendale, CA
Nendo 'Tomoshi' Dark Brown Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen Designed by the acclaimed Nendo Studio in Japan, the 'Tomoshi' (Japanese for "light") is a new offering in ...
Leather, Plastic
Louis Poulsen, Outdoor Wall Lamp in Cooper by Poul Henningsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, outdoor wall lamp in cooper by Poul Henningsen Size: Width x height x length (mm) 450 x 290 x 505, 6.8 kg Shades: Spun copper. Wall box and arm: Copperplated, brass...
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Outdoor Wall Lamp in Black by Poul Henningsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, outdoor wall lamp in black by Poul Henningsen Measures: Width x height x length (mm) 283 x 239 x 336, 2.4 kg Material: Shades and arm in black lacquered stainless s...
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Outdoor Lamp in Black by Poul Henningsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, outdoor lamp in black by Poul Henningsen. Measures: Width x height x length (mm) 283 x 909 x 283, 3.6 kg Material: Black-lacquered stainless steel. Ground anchor: I...
Metal
Pair of Bamboo Rattan Large Drum Pendant Lights / Lanterns
Located in Barcelona, ES
A cool pair of handcrafted rattan drum shaped ceiling suspension lamps with inner paper lampshades. France, 1960s These large lanterns have an...
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan, Paper
$3,791 / set
H 14.69 in Dm 13.39 in
Pair Of Large Vintage 1970s Bell Shaped Smoked Glass & Brass Pendant Lights
By Glashütte Limburg
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Pair of refurbished extra large, oversized vintage mid-century modern hanging bubble glass pendant lights / lanterns by Glashütte Limburg. Made in the late 1960s throughout to the la...
Brass
$1,738Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 10.9 in W 11.1 in D 12.1 in
Poul Henningsen PH 3/2.5 Outdoor Wall Light for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Poul Henningsen PH 3/2.5 outdoor wall light for Louis Poulsen. The design is based on Poul Henningsen's revolutionary reflective three-shade system, developed in 1925-1926, which di...
Stainless Steel, Steel
$3,306Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 11.4 in W 17.7 in D 18.5 in
Large Poul Henningsen 'PH Wall' Outdoor Lamp for Louis Poulsen in Verdigris
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Poul Henningsen 'PH Wall' Outdoor Lamp for Louis Poulsen in Verdigris The 'PH Wall' is part of the revolutionary three shade system developed by Paul He...
Copper
$1,421 / item
H 11.82 in Dm 16.34 in
Large Mid Century Modern Billard Pendant Lamps by Louis Poulsen Denmark 1960s
By Arne Jacobsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Munich, DE
Elegant and highly decorative Mid-Century Modern pendant lamps or hanging lights. Designed by Louis Poulsen, Denmark, 1960s. Price per item. Six identical pendant lamps available E...
Aluminum
$5,877 / set
H 12.21 in W 17.72 in D 19.3 in
Pair of Poul Henningsen Copper Wall Lamps, Louis Poulsen, Amazing Patina
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Helsinki, FI
A gorgeous pair of Poul Henningsen PH wall lamps for Louis Poulsen in patinated copper. These beautiful examples came from a swimming hall and have extra ...
Metal, Copper
Louis XV Bronze Hall Lanterns
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a classic "near pair" of Louis XV-style hall lanterns. These bronze lanterns are both in very good condition. They differ slightly in that one of the lanterns is in gilt bron...
Bronze
$722Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 6.2 in W 6.1 in D 10.5 in
Louis Poulsen 'Toldbod' Outdoor Wall Light in Natural Aluminum
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Louis Poulsen 'Toldbod' Outdoor Wall Light in Natural Aluminum The Toldbod 6.1" Wall was launched in 2006, with a design based on Poul Henningsen's Ellipse reflector. The fixture is...
Aluminum
$6,613Sale Price / set|15% Off
H 11.4 in W 17.7 in D 18.5 in
Pair of Poul Henningsen 'PH Wall' Outdoor Lamps for Louis Poulsen in Verdigris
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Poul Henningsen 'PH Wall' Outdoor Lamps for Louis Poulsen in Verdigris The 'PH Wall' is part of the revolutionary three-shade system developed by Poul...
Copper
Set Wall Lights by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark
By Louis Poulsen
Located in Antwerp, BE
A set of white and pink PH hat wall lamp designed by Poul Henningsen in the late 1970s and manufactured by Louis Poulsen in Denmark. Both labeled with paper-stickers from Louis Poulsen.
Metal
Poul Henningsen 'PH Hat' Wall Light for Louis Poulsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Poul Henningsen 'PH Hat' Wall Light for Louis Poulsen The 'PH Hat' wall light was designed by Poul Henningsen in 1961 as a refined glare free solution for bedr...
Steel
$5,924 / set
H 10.24 in Dm 17.72 in
Set PH 4.5 Copper Wall Lamps by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, DK 1980s
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Antwerp, BE
A set of two PH 4.5 copper wall lamps by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark 1980s. This iconic lamp was first designed in 1966 and has been a Class...
Copper
Louis Poulsen Vintage Petronella Oil Lamp by Henning Koppel
By Henning Koppel, Louis Poulsen
Located in San Diego, CA
Designed by Henning Koppel and manufactured by Louis Poulsen. The Petronella oil/kerosene table lamp is made from solid brass and has a glass shade.
Brass
Sold
H 13.39 in W 12.6 in D 8.67 in
1990s Four White Wall Lights/Sconces by Joachim Lepper for Louis Poulsen
By Joachim Lepper, Louis Poulsen
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful set of four metal white "Saturn" wall lights/sconces designed by Joachim Lepper for Louis Poulsen, 1990s. These four wall lights/sconces are all in very good condition and...
Metal
Sold
H 13.39 in W 12.6 in D 8.67 in
1990s Four White Wall Lights or Sconces by Joachim Lepper for Louis Poulsen
By Joachim Lepper, Louis Poulsen
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful set of four metal white "Saturn" wall lights or sconces designed by Joachim Lepper for Louis Poulsen, 1990s. These four wall lights or sconces are all in very good conditi...
Metal
Sold
H 7.29 in Dm 10.24 in
Three Vega Brass Pendant Lights by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Louis Poulsen, 1960s
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A set of three wonderful brass pendant lamps designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark, manufactured in Mid-Century, circa 1960 (1960s-1970s). They are made of polish...
Brass
Monumental Poul Henningsen Charlottenburg Pendant Lamp
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Denmark, 1980. Extra Large Louis Poulsen manufactured PH 8 1/2 'Charlottenborg' Pendant Lamps designed by Poul Henningsen in the 1960s. Dark Blue Reflector Enameled Reflector Dis...
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel