PH 3/2 Pendant Light

Pendant light with three opal glass shades

The PH 3/2 pendant lamp is part of the PH3 shade product family. The PH 3 shade system was initially designed as a pendant lamp solution but quickly evolved into other types of lighting fixtures for tables, floors, walls, and a wide variety of chandeliers. As a result of the various sizes, materials, finishes, and light sources, over a thousand variants have been developed over the years. A classic among these variants is the PH 3/2 pendant light. It is based on the principle of a reflective multi-shade system with glare-free lighting. The shape of the shades is based on a logarithmic spiral, with the light source positioned at its focal point. This allows the 3/2 to produce soft lighting. The PH lamps were designed as a rational lighting system in which the size of the shade, its material, and its finish could be combined according to the intended application. All upper shades have a corresponding set of middle and lower shades, so that the proportions between the shades roughly correspond to a 3:2:1 ratio. Each shade reduces the amount of light. One of the basic models from the early days was a PH 5/ 5. The first number indicates the approximate diameter of the shade; the number after the slash indicates that the middle and lower shades were “designed” for this top shade. This means that the 5/5 has a top shade with a diameter of 50, a middle shade of 31, and a bottom shade of 15.5 centimeters. This combination worked well when the light fixture was intended to be hung high up. However, if it was to be hung lower, a combination of a large upper shade and smaller middle and lower shades made sense. This is how the PH 3/ 2. came to be

Architecture and Light: Poul Henningsen

Poul Henningsen was born in Copenhagen, the son of the famous Danish actress Agnes Henningsen. He did not earn a degree in architecture, but studied at the Frederiksberg Technical School from 1911 to 1914 and then at the Technical College in Copenhagen from 1914 to 1917. He also began to apply traditional functionalist architecture. However, his professional interest soon focused primarily on lighting design—and that is what he is famous for.

Exquisitely Designed Lighting— Louis Poulsen

The Danish lighting manufacturer Louis Poulsen , founded in 1874, creates products that embody the duality of design and light. Every detail of a design serves a specific purpose. Every design begins and ends with light. Louis Poulsen offers a wide selection of lighting solutions for indoor and outdoor use, covering both professional applications and private residential settings. In close collaboration with designers and architects such as Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, Øivind Slaatto, Alfred Homann, Clara von Zweigbergk, nendo – Oki Sato, and GamFratesi, Louis Poulsen has established itself as one of the world’s leading providers of architectural and decorative lighting.