Poul Henningsen floor lamp
This rare early floor lamp, model ‘Syvtallet’, was designed in the 1930s by Danish designer Poul Henningsen and produced by Louis Poulsen in Denmark. It features a distinctive combination of geometrically tiered shades and a swan-necked upright, exemplifying Henningsen’s rigorous approach to glare-free, layered lighting. The lamp is marked “Patented” near the socket, confirming its authenticity and production under Henningsen’s collaboration with Louis Poulsen.
The lamp is constructed from browned brass with a deep oxidized patina, a black bakelite socket housing, and a three-tiered glass shades in warm amber-yellow tones. The shades are arranged in concentric circular layers, designed to distribute light evenly and softly while shielding the eye from direct glare. The top layer is wide and slightly upturned, with smaller inner shades nested concentrically to reinforce the PH lighting principle of layered diffusion.
The stand features a bent brass tube in a characteristic sweeping curve that holds the shade at a downward angle. The base is heavy and round, made of solid browned brass, and shows visible aging, including surface wear and some pitting, consistent with early 20th-century manufacture. The textile power cord exits the base cleanly at the side, complementing the overall period-authentic character.
Poul Henningsen (1894–1967) was one of Denmark’s most influential lighting designers, renowned for his pioneering work on layered shade systems that produced glare-free illumination. His long-standing collaboration with Louis Poulsen began in the 1920s and yielded a series of now-iconic lighting designs, grounded in scientific lighting principles and modernist aesthetics. The ‘Syvtallet’ floor lamp is an early example of these innovations adapted for reading or ambient use in residential interiors.
This lamp remains in good vintage condition with signs of age and use, including patination to the brass, minor surface marks.
Dimensions: Width 29 cm (11.4 inches), Depth 40 cm (15.7 inches), Height 144 cm (56.7 inches).
Dimensions (cm) | W: 29 / D: 40 / H: 144 |
| Producer | Louis Poulsen |
| Color | Amber, Yellow |
| Decade | 1930s |
| Country | Denmark |
| Style | Danish modern, Scandinavian Modern |
| Material | Brass, Glass |
| Designed in | 1930s |
| Item Number | 250164 |
Poul Henningsen
Poul Henningsen (1894 – 1967) was born on September 9, 1894, in Ordrup, Denmark, and became one of the most celebrated figures in Danish design history. Known primarily for his innovative work in lighting design, Henningsen transformed the w...
Read more
