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.
H 23.75 in W 11 in D 3.5 in
Vintage Clavier Piano Action Model
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage clavier piano display model circa 1962, Evanston, IL, USA. Clavier, a bi-monthly music instructional magazine originating in 1962, likely designed this action model as a sale...
Wood
H 20 in W 35 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Handmade White Finished Wicker & Rattan Coffee Pot
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern handmade & hand woven white finished wicker, rattan & cane sculpted coffee or tea pot with lid. Great as toy storage container or for a coffee shop display. All or...
Wicker, Cane, Rattan
H 20.48 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Pair of Grand Tour Obelisks
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A pair of late 19th century Grand Tour Obelisks. The mouldings in Carara, the plint in Sienna, the plaque in Lapis Lazuli and the obelisks themselves in onyx.
Onyx, Marble
H 10.63 in Dm 3.43 in
1860 Grand Tour Bronze Statue of Place Vendome Column with Napoleon, Marble Base
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for auction this stunning antique circa 1860 Grand Tour bronze statue of Place Vendome Column with Napoleon on top in so...
Bronze
H 15.36 in W 11.82 in D 3.94 in
Grand Tour Neoclassical Style Faux-Marble Temple
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful and important wooden memorial temple covered in faux marble. From the purest neoclassical form, this Grand Tour piece of furniture is a classic piece of furniture of grea...
Wood, Paper
H 9 in W 12.5 in D 13 in
Liberace Autographed Vintage Schoenhut Toy Grand Piano
By Schoenhut
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Made by the renowned American toy manufacturer in approximately 1920, this wooden toy baby grand piano has been autographed in two places by the legendary Liberace. The piano shows o...
Brass
H 18.57 in W 14.63 in D 1.13 in
Grand Tour Specimen Marbles Plaque, Italy, circa 1850
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A wonderful third quarter 19th century Italian 'grand tour' ancient marbles specimen plaque in original silver-gilt frame.
Marble
H 17 in W 14 in D 12 in
Art Deco Heron Bird and Cattails Chrome Sculpture with Glass Fish Bowl Aquarium
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Rare Art Deco piece featuring a crane or heron walking amongst a group of cattails while watching fish in the water. The bowl is decorated with an etched frosted glass scene which is...
Chrome
H 9.75 in W 9.5 in D 1 in
Vintage Sculptural Silver Necklace by Graziella Laffi
By Graziella Laffi
Located in Atlanta, GA
A bespoken sterling silver necklace with five roundel bell shape of gradual sizes linked by joint chains, designed and made by Graziella Laffi (1923-2009), Lima, Peru, circa 1965. The subtly hammered roundels evoke a sense of history with the form found in pre-Columbian culture, yet the necklace appears beyond ethnic, it exuberates a confident and bold modernism. The necklace with Peruvian Cultural Ministry label to verso. Graziella Laffi was born in 1923 in Florence, Italy to Gino Laffi, a silversmith and artist. Following her family tradition, Graziella enrolled in master classes after elementary school, focusing on design and painting. She next attended Escuela de Bellas Artes de Puerta Romana for three years, where Gino taught, and then to the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, where she concentrated in architecture until the start of World War II. In 1947, Graziella, then twenty-four, immigrated with her parents to Peru. Gino later created a silversmith studio and showroom called Fabrica Laffi on Avenue Mexico, where Graziella initially learned her Craft. The Pre-Columbian culture in her adopted country inspired Graziella to travel and collect, which ultimately influence her design in the silver pieces. Graziella learned the metalworking techniques of the ancient Peruvian civilizations and rejected the current technology. She mostly used hammering, rolling and creating joints as the ancients do. As an ambassador of Peruvian culture, her work promoted the indigenous Peruvian art and rekindled the interest in its ancient heritage throughout South America, the United States and Europe. She exhibited her growing collection of Peruvian artifacts...
Sterling Silver
H 8.5 in W 3.5 in D 3.5 in
Miniature Cast Bronze Grand Tour Architectural Model and Desk Thermometer
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This miniature cast bronze architectural desk thermometer sculpture of a European monument dates to the 19th century to commemorate one of the Grand T...
Bronze
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...
Chrome
PH Grand Piano PH157 Legacy, Walnut Cognac Leather Brass, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
This offer comes from ToneArt / PH Pianos, which is the official holder of the license from the Poul Henningsen family to produce and sell authentic PH Pianos exclusively and worldwide. All prices are ex works but we have extensive experience in worldwide delivery and instalment, including “white glove delivery”. All our authentic PH Pianos are crafted inhouse and according to original design and true craftsmanship traditions. We are a Danish company, based in Copenhagen, and we have a big showroom in the very heart of Copenhagen with the full collection of all PH Pianos as well as the Poul Henningsen furniture collection that we also hold the exclusive license for. We value and apply Danish, Scandinavian and Nordic values in everything we do, including reliability, full transparency and trustworthy communication! - 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...
Brass
PH Upright Piano, Cognac Leather with Brass Metal Parts, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
This offer comes from ToneArt / PH Pianos, which is the official holder of the license from the Poul Henningsen family to produce and sell authentic PH Pianos exclusively and worldwide. All prices are ex works but we have extensive experience in worldwide delivery and installment, including “white glove delivery”. All our authentic PH Pianos are crafted inhouse and according to original design and true craftsmanship traditions. We are a Danish company, based in Copenhagen, and we have a big showroom in the very heart of Copenhagen with the full collection of all PH Pianos as well as the Poul Henningsen furniture collection that we also hold the exclusive license for. We value and apply Danish, Scandinavian and Nordic values in everything we do, including reliability, full transparency and trustworthy communication! - 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...
Brass
PH Grand Piano PH159 Legacy, Black Woven Leather, Chrome
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
This offer comes from ToneArt / PH Pianos, which is the official holder of the license from the Poul Henningsen family to produce and sell authentic PH Pianos exclusively and worldwide. All prices are ex works but we have extensive experience in worldwide delivery and installment, including “white glove delivery”. All our authentic PH Pianos are crafted inhouse and according to original design and true craftsmanship traditions. We are a Danish company, based in Copenhagen, and we have a big showroom in the very heart of Copenhagen with the full collection of all PH Pianos as well as the Poul Henningsen furniture collection that we also hold the exclusive license for. We value and apply Danish, Scandinavian and Nordic values in everything we do, including reliability, full transparency and trustworthy communication! - 5-Year guarantee. - We regularly crate, ship, and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance. This very special PH Grand Piano...
Chrome
PH Bow Grand Piano in Maple Birch with Brass Details, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
This offer comes from ToneArt / PH Pianos, which is the official holder of the license from the Poul Henningsen family to produce and sell authentic PH Pianos exclusively and worldwide. All prices are ex works but we have extensive experience in worldwide delivery and instalment, including “white glove delivery”. All our authentic PH Pianos are crafted inhouse and according to original design and true craftsmanship traditions. We are a Danish company, based in Copenhagen, and we have a big showroom in the very heart of Copenhagen with the full collection of all PH Pianos as well as the Poul Henningsen furniture collection that we also hold the exclusive license for. We value and apply Danish, Scandinavian and Nordic values in everything we do, including reliability, full transparency and trustworthy communication! - 5 year guarantee - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance The PH Bow Grand Piano...
Maple, Birch, Birdseye Maple
PH Bow Grand Piano in American Red Maple Burl with Brass, Modern, Sculptural
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
This offer comes from ToneArt / PH Pianos, which is the official holder of the license from the Poul Henningsen family to produce and sell authentic PH Pianos exclusively and worldwide. All prices are ex works but we have extensive experience in worldwide delivery and instalment, including “white glove delivery”. All our authentic PH Pianos are crafted inhouse and according to original design and true craftsmanship traditions. We are a Danish company, based in Copenhagen, and we have a big showroom in the very heart of Copenhagen with the full collection of all PH Pianos as well as the Poul Henningsen furniture collection that we also hold the exclusive license for. We value and apply Danish, Scandinavian and Nordic values in everything we do, including reliability, full transparency and trustworthy communication! - 5 year guarantee - We regularly crate, ship and install PH Pianos worldwide with full insurance This gorgeous new PH Bow Grand Piano...
Brass
