PH 3/2 Wall Lamp
The three-shade lighting system was developed in 1925–1926 by Danish designer Poul Henningsen. The first lamps based on this system were created in collaboration with Louis Poulsen for an exhibition in Paris. This partnership continued throughout Henningsen’s life, until his death in 1967.
Henningsen’s ambition was to create glare-free lighting that directed illumination precisely where needed, while also producing soft, comfortable shadows. Working with incandescent bulbs, he developed a scientific approach to lighting design, using the logarithmic spiral as the foundation for the shape of the shades. This ensured an even distribution of light across the entire surface, helping to control glare and create a balanced, diffuse illumination.
The PH 3/2 Wall lamp is part of this broader three-shade family, which today includes around 30 different models, including outdoor variants. Rather than designing a single lamp, Henningsen created an entire system, with nearly a thousand variations produced over time. These included table, floor, and wall lamps, as well as chandeliers—particularly popular in the 1930s for illuminating rooms with high ceilings.
The system offered great flexibility, with numerous combinations of sizes, materials, and colours. Early versions featured metal shades with painted undersides in white, gold, or silver to achieve different lighting effects—diffuse, warm, or cool. Later, glass shades were introduced, allowing not only downward-directed light but also ambient illumination throughout the room.
Each shade in the system is carefully positioned to reduce light evenly according to its distance from the source. The model numbers reflect the size of the top shade and its corresponding lower shades. In “pure” models, such as the 2/2, all shades are proportionally matched. The PH 3/2 Wall, however, is a “hybrid” model: it features a top shade of approximately 30 cm combined with lower shades from the 2/2 configuration. These hybrid designs were introduced to accommodate practical needs, such as mounting lamps at lower heights.
Through this modular and scientifically grounded approach, Henningsen created a timeless lighting system that continues to define high-quality, glare-free illumination.
Light concept
The fixture is designed based on the principle of a reflective three-shade system, which directs the majority of the light downwards. The shades are made of mouth-blown opal three-layer glass, which is shiny on the top and sandblasted matt on the inside, giving a soft and diffused light distribution.
Product details
Light source 1x40W 1x40W E14
Other information
Material: Shades in mouth-blown White Opal Glass. Arm and wall box in bright chrome-plated brass. For mounting directly on power outlet. Switch: On the wall box.
Size & measurements
Size (mm): 285 (width) x 235 (Height) x 285 (Length)
Weight:4.8 kg
Mounting
With cord:
2.9 m. Cord with plug.
On/off switch on wall box.
Without cord for hardwiring:
Wall bracket for mounting on wall.
On/off switch on wall box or with turn on/off at main switch.
