PH 3/2 Table Lamp

The PH 3/2 Table gives soft, harmonious light through mouth-blown three-layer white opal glass that directs light mainly downward. Poul Henningsen based it on the three-shade system he created in 1925; the first lamp in that system — the "Paris Lamp", made with Louis Poulsen — won gold at the 1925 exhibition. Built on the logarithmic spiral for even, glare-free light, the PH 3/2 pairs a ~30 cm top shade with the 2/2 lower shades.

Henningsen called bad lighting "the dark side of electricity" and devoted his career to fixing it. His insight was geometric: by deriving shade curves from the logarithmic spiral and stacking three of them in calculated positions, light from a single bulb could be redirected so that none of it reaches the eye directly. The white opal-glass table version distils that idea into its most domestic form — an island of light, as he described it, that makes the area around the lamp feel inviting while the glass itself glows softly across the room. The design has remained in continuous production at Louis Poulsen, essentially unchanged, since the late 1920s.

Few table lamps are as easy to live with. The classic white opal version is the most neutral of the PH 3/2 family, equally at home beside Scandinavian oak, dark walnut or a minimalist sofa. Use it as a bedside lamp where the downward light is kind for reading, or on a console near the entrance so you come home to a warm glow rather than an overhead blast — a small luxury that transforms compact apartments. See more table lamps, explore the Louis Poulsen collection, or read our tips on designer lighting for small apartments.

Light source: E27 (E26 compatible). IP20, indoor. Bulb not included.