If you only choose one Danish design pendant light, this would undoubtedly be it. Since 1958, the PH 5 by Poul Henningsen has been illuminating dining tables around the world with a soft, glare-free light. A look back at an icon–and its extended family.
Poul Henningsen, the inventor of soft light
Poul Henningsen (1894-1967) had an obsession: eliminating glare. At a time when exposed light bulbs were harsh on the eyes, he conceived a tiered shade system in the 1920s that conceals the light source and diffuses the light. His collaboration with Louis Poulsen, which began in 1925, lasted his entire life. His tiered shade principle can also be found in other pieces of the PH series, such as the PH 80.
1958: The PH 5
The PH 5 (the "5" refers to its 50 cm diameter) solved a practical problem of the time: light bulb manufacturers were constantly changing their shapes and sizes. Henningsen therefore designed a luminaire that works with any bulb without ever revealing a bright point of light. A brilliant little trick: subtle red and blue reflectors correct the light spectrum for warmer color rendering.
How does the shade system work?
Several concentric shades are layered around the bulb. The light bounces from one to the next before emerging, softened and directed downward. The result: you illuminate the table, not the guests' eyes. It is the complete opposite of a spotlight, which is what makes the ambiance so comfortable.
Three sizes for the table
- The original PH 5 Pendant (Ø 50 cm), perfect above a dining table.
- The PH 5 Mini (Ø 30 cm), ideal for small spaces, entryways, or grouped together over an island.
- The PH 5-4½ & 6½-6, the multi-shade system that diffuses light more widely, even onto the walls.
Which color should you choose?
The PH 5 is available in classic white but also in a wide variety of shades–sober monochromes, delicate pastels, or warmer copper and brass finishes. White blends into the background; a colored or metallic shade, by contrast, turns the pendant into a true focal point of the room.
An investment that lasts
Unchanged for over sixty years, the PH 5 is timeless and made to be passed down. It is the perfect example of the Louis Poulsen philosophy: form follows function. Discover the entire PH 5 collection in our shop.