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Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Danish

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.

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Creator: Louis Poulsen
Beautiful Pair of Louis Poulsen Industrial Lights
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.
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Nendo 'Tomoshi' Dark Brown Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen
By Nendo, Oki Sato, Louis Poulsen
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 ...
Category

2010s Danish Organic Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Leather, Plastic

Nendo 'Tomoshi' White Portable Lantern by Oki Sato for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Nendo, Oki Sato
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...
Category

2010s Danish Organic Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Leather, Plastic

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...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Aluminum

Louis Poulsen, Outdoor Wall Lamp in Cooper by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Related Items
Large Poul Henningsen 'PH Wall' Outdoor Lamp for Louis Poulsen in Verdigris
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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...
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21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

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Poul Henningsen PH 3/2.5 Outdoor Wall Light for Louis Poulsen
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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...
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21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

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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...
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20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

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Bamboo, Paper, Rattan, Cane, Wicker

Louis Poulsen PH 3½-2½ Glass Table Lamp by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in New York, NY
Poul Henningsen was born in Copenhagen by the famous Danish actress Agnes Henningsen. He never graduated as an architect, but studied at The Technical School at Frederiksberg, Denmar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Glass

Louis Poulsen PH 3½-2½ Color Table Lamp by Poul Henningsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Henningsen
Located in New York, NY
About This Product The PH 3½-2½ Glass Table lamp was designed in 1928 and is one of many advanced projects undertaken by Poul Henningsen in the development of his world-famous three-...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Aluminum

Louis Poulsen PH 3/2 Table Lamp by Poul Henningsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in New York, NY
About This Product Poul Henningsen designed the three-shade system during 1925/1926. The first lights using the system were designed for an exhibition in Paris. His work with Louis P...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Metal

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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

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.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Metal

18th Century Brass Barn Portable Lantern Candlelight
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early Danish 18th Century Brass Barn Portable Lantern.
Category

Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Jørn Utzon White 'Doo-Wop' Pendant for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Jørn Utzon
Located in Glendale, CA
Jørn Utzon White 'Doo-Wop' Pendant for Louis Poulsen Originally introduced in the 1950s, the 'Doo-Wop' pendant light was designed in close cooperation between the Danish Navy Buildi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Aluminum

Poul Henningsen 'PH Hat' Wall or Ceiling Light for Louis Poulsen
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Glendale, CA
Poul Henningsen 'PH Hat' Wall or Ceiling Light for Louis Poulsen The 'PH Hat' wall or ceiling light was designed by Poul Henningsen in 1961 as a refined glare ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Steel

Oki Sato Njp Wall Lamp – Long Arm
By Louis Poulsen, Oki Sato
Located in Berkeley, CA
The fixture provides direct glare-free horizontal light while reflecting some of the light through the rear of the head, illuminating the top of the arm. The ergonomic design of the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Previously Available Items
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.
Category

1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Brass

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...
Category

1990s Danish Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Metal

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...
Category

1990s Danish Modern Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Metal

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...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Monumental Poul Henningsen Charlottenburg Pendant Lamp
By Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen
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...
Category

1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Louis Poulsen Lanterns

Materials

Aluminum, Enamel, Steel

Louis Poulsen lanterns for sale on 1stDibs.

Louis Poulsen lanterns are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Louis Poulsen lanterns, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 3 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 3 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original lanterns by Louis Poulsen were created in the modern style in europe during the 21st century and contemporary. Prices for Louis Poulsen lanterns can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $931 and can go as high as $3,881, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,662.
Questions About Louis Poulsen Lanterns
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Sleek and elegant Louis Poulsen lights are a Danish company, founded in 1874. Originally, the company was a tool and electrical supplies company and when the founder died, a nephew, Louis, took over and moved the company to Nyhavn. In 2019, another move happened and the headquarters moved to Holmen, Copenhagen, which is where it is today. The company again turned directions and focused on lighting, winning raves and a serious following.

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