The name Poul Henningsen is synonymous with the best and most innovative modern Scandinavian lamps and other lighting. The Danish designer created a signature vocabulary of fixtures with tiered and layered shades in sculptural arrangements that are at once naturalistic and geometric.
Henningsen grew up in a town on the outskirts of Copenhagen and studied architecture at the Technical University of Denmark. He would become a noted art critic, journalist and screenwriter, but his first love was lighting design.
Henningsen’s childhood home was illuminated by oil lamps. When his family switched to electrified lighting, he was alarmed and repelled by the harsh glare cast by an incandescent bulb, and in his late teens he began conducting quasi-scientific experiments to measure which materials and methods best diffused or reflected light to give it a warm brightness. His work came to the attention of the lighting-fixtures firm Louis Poulsen, which sponsored the development of a prototype lamp. The design won a gold medal at the 1925 Paris Expositions Internationales des Arts Decóratifs et Industriels Modernes — from which the term Art Deco derives. The lamp, whose three-part shade is said to be inspired by the arrangement of a dinner plate atop a soup bowl atop a teacup, became the basis for Henningsen’s most successful design, the PH 4/3 desk lamp.
All told, Henningsen would design some 100 lighting fixtures in his career. Some of his most notable creations are hanging lamps, which include the Septima (1929), a pendant composed of seven graduated frosted-glass layers; the Spiral (1942), made of a single ribbon of enameled aluminum; and the Artichoke lamp (1958), whose 70 glass or metal fins in a staggered and graduated arrangement on a central steel frame resemble those of its namesake. The last is likely Henningsen’s masterwork and an icon of mid-20th-century design. Like all Henningsen lighting designs, it is striking, sculptural and — thanks to his insistence on the primacy of the quality of the light cast — superbly functional.
Find a collection of authentic Poul Henningsen table lamps, floor lamps and other lighting on 1stDibs.
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Leather Natural Un-Dyed, Leather Upholstery, Visible
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available with wood seating in five colorw...
Chrome
PH Snake Chair Counter - chrome steel tube White leather upholstery Bar height
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
PH Snake Chair Counter - Authentic Poul Henningsen Design in Sculptural Scandinavian Craftsmanship The PH Snake Chair Counter is a rare, iconic design by Poul Henningsen - an elegan...
Chrome
PH Stool, Brass Legs, Mahogany Veneer, Red Lamb Leather on Panels and Seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH dressing table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH stool is available in maho...
Leather, Mahogany
Ph Stool, Wood Legs, Mahogany Veneer, Red Lamb Leather on Panels and Seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH Dressing Table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH Stool is available in mahogany, bla...
Leather, Mahogany
Ph Stool, Wood Legs, Black Oak Veneer, Extreme Black Leather Seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH Dressing Table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH Stool is available in mahogany, bla...
Leather, Oak
PH Stool, wood legs, black oak veneer, extreme walnut leather seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH Dressing Table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH Stool is available in mahogany, bla...
Leather, Oak
Ph Snake Stool, Chrome, Leather Extreme Mocca, Leather Upholstery, Visible Tubes
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Snake Stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available wi...
Chrome
PH Piano Bench - chrome legs and leather seat in walnut color
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Introducing the world’s first Beautiful Piano Bench.Faced with the challenge of crafting an aesthetically stunning seat to complement the genuinely designed pianos by Poul Henningsen...
Aluminum
PH Snake Stool Counter - chrome steel tube Black leather upholstery Bar height
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
PH Snake Stool Counter - Authentic Poul Henningsen Design in Sculptural Scandinavian Craftsmanship The PH Snake Stool Counter is a rare, iconic design by Poul Henningsen - an elegan...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Red Painted Satin Matt, Wood Seat, Visible Tubes
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available with wood seating in five colorw...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Black Painted Satin Matt, Wood Seat, Visible Tubes
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available with wood seating in five colorw...
Chrome
PH Stool, wood legs, natural oak veneer, extreme black leather seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH Dressing Table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH Stool is available in mahogany, bla...
Leather, Oak
PH Stool, Brass Legs, Natural Oak Veneer, Extreme Walnut Leather Seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH Dressing Table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH Stool is available in mahogany, bla...
Leather, Oak
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Leather Extreme Walnut, Leather Upholstery, Visible Tube
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available wi...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, chrome, leather extreme indianred, leather upholstery, visible
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Snake Stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available wi...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, White Painted Satin Matt, Wood Seat, Visible Tubes
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available with wood seating in five colorw...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Leather Natural Un-Dyed, Full Leather Upholstery
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available wi...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Leather Extreme Black, Leather Upholstery, Visible Tubes
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available wi...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, chrome, leather extreme walnut, full leather upholstery
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Snake Stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available wi...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Leather Extreme Mocca, Full Leather Upholstery
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Snake Stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available wi...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Leather Extreme Indianred, Full Leather Upholstery
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available wi...
Chrome
PH Stool, Brass Legs, Black Oak Veneer, Extreme Walnut Leather Seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH dressing table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH stool is available in mahogany, bla...
Leather, Oak
Ph Stool, Brass Legs, Black Oak Veneer, Extreme Black Leather Seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH Dressing Table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH Stool is available in mahogany, bla...
Leather, Oak
PH Stool, wood legs, natural oak veneer, extreme walnut leather seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH Dressing Table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH Stool is available in mahogany, bla...
Oak, Leather
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Green Painted Satin Matt, Wood Seat, Visible Tubes
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available with wood seating in five colorw...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, Chrome, Leather Extreme Black, Full Leather Upholstery
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH snake stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available wi...
Chrome
PH Snake Stool, chrome, yellow painted satin matt, wood seat, visible tubes
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Snake Stool is completely true to the original design and the use of chromed steel tubes, however updated for the 21st century to be available with wood seating in five colorw...
Chrome
PH Stool, Brass Legs, Natural Oak Veneer, Extreme Black Leather Seat
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH stool is perfectly proportioned to match the PH dressing table or stand-alone as a functional sculpture. The PH stool is available in mahogany, blac...
Leather, Oak
$550
H 17.5 in W 21.5 in D 14.1 in
Mid-Century Modern Lucite Waterfall Bench Stool With Faux Snake Skin Upholstery
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Lucite stool with faux snake skin upholstery. Elegant and chic, this gleaming lucite stool is attributed to Hollis Jones. Original chrome-plated casters, the lucit...
Upholstery, Lucite
Beachcomber Milking Stool in Oiled Walnut
By Greg Mitchell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The beachcomber milking stool is our take on a Classic, simple form. The hand shaped seat is sculpted for comfort, and the legs are shaved wi...
Oak, Walnut
William Sheppee Folding Iron and Leather Stool
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Unusual folding foot stool by William Sheppee. Heavy wrought iron and patinated brown saddle leather.
Wrought Iron
$8,600
H 16.54 in W 23.43 in D 15.16 in
Art Deco Stool, Material Wood and leather, Country France, 1930
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Stools Art Deco. Material: wood and leather You want to live in the golden years, this is the stool that your project needs. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouve...
Wood, Leather
Wood Tripod Heart Stool, 1950s France
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique heart tripod stool made in France, circa 1950s. Substantial and chunky heart shaped seat with three sturdy club legs with faceted sides. Perfe...
Wood
Mid-Century Red Velvet Vintage Stool, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful red velvet upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of the 1960s style. We can prepare this pair also in another color of fabric...
Velvet
Pair of Paul McCobb Brass Stools Silver Shagreen Leather
By Paul McCobb
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of Paul McCobb brass stools, shagreen silver leather, with brass criss-cross bases, adjustable feet.
Brass
Amuneal’s Leather Stool (Counter Height)
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
Amuneal’s blackened steel and leather stools are fabricated from precision machined and laser-cut steel components. The laser-cut and formed seat is hand clad in leather and suspende...
Steel
$1,467 / item
H 32 in W 18 in D 22 in
Customizable Counter Height Stool with Black Finish and Upholstery, Ura Line
By Uultis Design
Located in Miami, FL
A Ura counter height stool designed by Uultis Studio with black matte finish and black fabric upholstery. The Ura counter stool showcases a harmoniou...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Italian Bamboo Bar or Counter Stools 29.5" height
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of sculptural bamboo bar or counter stools, Italy, circa 1960s. They have recently been reupholstered in a low maintenance black vinyl and are ready to use. They retain their wa...
Upholstery, Bamboo, Rattan
$4,500 / set
H 42 in W 18.1 in D 23.6 in
Four (4) NIB Cesca Bar Stools Marcel Breuer Knoll Chromed Steel Upholstery
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
At the Bauhaus, Marcel Breuer married traditional craftsmanship with industrial methods and materials to help make tubular steel furniture an international sensation and a modern institution. Marcel Breuer was also the designer of the iconic Wassily chair and the Breuer Building, which now houses the Whitney Museum of American Art in the heart of NYC. This brand new set is in the super elegant "Caviar Hourglass" upholstery, and have never been used. These chairs are new in box, and have been priced near the first-party Knoll price. However, we can offer discounted and faster shipping, and are willing to reasonably negotiate. At this time, we have a total of 8 stools...
Steel, Chrome
Khwarizmi Counter Height Walnut and Upholstered Leather Stool
By Alex Stap, Brett Paulin
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Indulge in the luxurious comfort of the Khwarizmi Stool. Handcrafted using walnut wood, this stool is a unique statement piece that will take center stage in any living space. The It...
Brass
Danish Mid-Century Poul Henningsen Ph Snake Stool
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Norwalk, CT
The PH snake stool was designed by Poul Henningsen as a counterpart to his world-renowned Danish mid-century PH lighting line. With a twisted chrome bas...
Chrome