Manufacturer: Louis Poulsen | Designer: Poul Henningsen

Poul Henningsen developed his three-shade system in 1925–1926, first realised in cooperation with Louis Poulsen for the Paris Exhibition. The system is built on the logarithmic spiral: the centre of the light source is positioned at the focal point of the spiral, and every shade angle is calculated to redirect and soften the bulb’s output, eliminating glare and directing the majority of light downward. Over the decades, around a thousand different models were produced — table, floor and wall lamps, chandeliers, and countless colour and size combinations. The first shades were metal with painted undersurfaces in white, gold or silver, chosen to produce diffuse, warm or cool light respectively.

The PH 4/3 Table Lamp is a hybrid model, introduced in its current form in 1966. It takes an approximately 400mm top shade — from the 4/4 scale — and pairs it with the lower shades of the 3/3 model, a combination developed to bring pendants to lower hanging heights and later adapted for table use. The model numbers refer to shade size: the top shade here is approximately 40cm, with correspondingly proportioned middle and lower shades. Three spun aluminium shades, powder coated white, sit above a high lustre chrome plated brass base and steel stem, with a distinctive black sandblasted bakelite triangular piece at the junction — a detail that has remained unchanged since the original design.

• Light source: Max 1 × 100W E27 (not included)
• Shades: Spun aluminium, white powder coated
• Base: High lustre chrome plated spun brass
• Stem: High lustre chrome plated steel
• Triangular piece: Black sandblasted injection moulded bakelite
• Cord: 2.9m black plastic with plug | On/off switch on cord
  
• Weight: Max. 2kg
• IP20

Also available as the PH 4/3 Pendant Light. Part of the Louis Poulsen PH Lights collection.