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Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Danish, 1894-1967

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.

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Creator: Poul Henningsen
PH Grand Piano PH150 Excellence, cognac leather with chrome, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. Please contact us for individual shipping quote and for any questions. The PH Grand Piano...
Category

2010s Danish Bauhaus Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Chrome, Aluminum

PH Upright Piano, Cognac Color Leather with Chrome, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. For those who want a traditional acoustic upright piano with one of the most iconic design silhouettes, the PH Upright Piano...
Category

2010s Danish Bauhaus Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Chrome

PH180 Bow Grand Piano in Macassar Wood with Brass, Art-Case Piano
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. Inside and Out, A Masterful Work of Art This PH Bow Grand Piano Curated Edition is an exquisite instrument and sculptural art case piano, featuring Macassar Wood casing with a high gloss finish, with polished brass metal trim. Inside the beautiful case lies the highest-quality, hand-selected piano action. Design Legacy and Skilled Craftsmanship The iconic Danish designer Poul Henningsen designed the PH Bow Grand Piano in...
Category

2010s Danish Art Deco Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Brass

PH Bow Grand Piano in American Red Maple Burl with Brass, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. This gorgeous new PH Bow Grand Piano...
Category

2010s Danish Art Deco Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Brass

PH Grand Piano PH150 Excellence, Black Leather and Chrome, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. The Poul Henningsen designed PH Grand Piano PH150 Excellence...
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2010s Danish Bauhaus Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Chrome

PH Grand Piano PH186 Excellence, Black Leather, Chrome, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. The Poul Henningsen-designed PH Grand Piano...
Category

2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Chrome

PH Grand Piano PH186 Excellence, Red Leather and Chrome Lid, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. This PH Grand Piano...
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2010s Danish Bauhaus Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Chrome

PH Grand Piano PH170 Curated, Mineral Leather, White Oak and Burned Brass
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5-year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship, and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. This spectacular PH Grand Piano Curated Edition is the first of its kind. It has been created in collaboration with Stevns Klint Experience, a UNESCO heritage site located an hour away from Copenhagen, Denmark. The materials and finishes of this piano have been completely customized to represent key elements of the Stevns Klint Experience geography. From the leather banding, to the type and finish of the wood, to the metal trimming on the case, this piano is very special. More than Just a Piano- Finishes with Symbolism The mineral-colored leather banding of this piano represents the Fish Clay found in the chalk cliffs of Stevns Klint. Fish Clay is the layer of gray clay which contains meteorite particulate, and is scientific proof of the collision 55 million years ago of a meteor with Earth, that ended almost all life including the dinosaurs. Hand-carved beautiful ash-wood frames the delicate and elegant transparent lid, and all metal trim has been done in a semi-matte oxidized brass finish called Burned Brass. All materials and finishes combine to create an extremely elegant, aesthetically stunning-yet approachable- piano. Stevns Klint Experience has provided four fossils from the site which have been set into the frame of the piano, making this instrument a true collector’s piece. Original Design, Unique Customization Designed by Poul Henningsen in 1930, the PH Grand Piano is an iconic design from Denmark that has captured the attention of art collectors everywhere. As a Curated Edition, this instrument is the first of its kind to use a piano action...
Category

2010s Danish Bauhaus Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Brass

PH Grand Piano PH159 Legacy, Black Woven Leather, Chrome
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5-Year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship, and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. This very special PH Grand Piano...
Category

2010s Danish Bauhaus Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Chrome

Ph Grand Piano PH159 Legacy, Black Woven Leather, Oxidized Brass, Walnut Wood
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5-year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship, and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. Designed by Poul Henningsen in 1930, this ...
Category

2010s Danish Bauhaus Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Chrome

PH Upright Piano, Cognac Leather with Brass Metal Parts, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship, and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. An incredible design piece for all spaces. This new edition of the PH Upright Piano...
Category

2010s Danish Bauhaus Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Brass

PH Bow Grand Piano, Maple Birch with Brass Details
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. The PH Bow Grand Piano...
Category

2010s Danish Art Deco Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Brass

PH Grand Piano PH157 Legacy, Walnut Cognac Leather Brass, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5-year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship, and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. In 1930, Poul Henningsen completely reimagined the world’s most popular musical instrument with his PH Grand Piano...
Category

2010s Danish Bauhaus Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Brass

PH Bow Grand Piano in Maple Birch with Brass Details, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
- All prices are listed ex works. - 5 year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. The PH Bow Grand Piano...
Category

2010s Danish Art Deco Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Maple, Birch, Birdseye Maple

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Poul Henningsen abstract sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Poul Henningsen abstract sculptures are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Poul Henningsen abstract sculptures, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original abstract sculptures by Poul Henningsen were created in the Art Deco style in scandinavia during the 21st century and contemporary. Prices for Poul Henningsen abstract sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $43,020 and can go as high as $327,316, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $115,973.
Questions About Poul Henningsen Abstract Sculptures
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    Poul Henningsen is famous for designing 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. Some of his most iconic pieces include the Spiral, made of a single ribbon of enameled aluminum, and the Artichoke lamp, whose 70 glass or metal fins in a staggered and graduated arrangement on a central steel frame resemble those of its namesake. Find a collection of Poul Henningsen lighting on 1stDibs.

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