PH Artichoke Glass

Design
Poul Henningsen

Key features
- Classical masterpiece - 72 “leaves” placed on 12 steel arches - Light source not visible from any angle - glare free - Originally designed for a restaurant in Copenhagen

Concept
The fixture provides 100% glare-free light. The 72 precisely positioned leaves form 12 unique rows of six leaves each. They illuminate the fixture, as well as emit diffused light with a unique pattern. Reflection from the light source is diffused in the sandblasted lower surfaces, and this light is reflected decoratively in the top surfaces, giving the fixture a unique glow. The surface treatment on the glass leaves eliminates direct glare.

Finish
Clear glass, sandblasted.

Story behind the product
The glass version of PH Artichoke dates back to 1927-31, when Poul Henningsen designed a glass pendant by the name of PH Septima – a pendant with seven glass shades, which was manufactured by Louis Poulsen until 1940 when it was phased out due to lack of materials during the war. Asked to design a fixture for the Langelinie Pavillonen restaurant in 1958, Poul Henningsen completed the assignment in three months as PH Artichoke is based on the ideas behind PH Septima. PH Septima consisted of seven shades in clear glass, sand-blown in six fields. PH Artichoke divided the shades into picket fences as Poul Henningsen called them, and it was made of copper. Of hand-made, sandblown glass, PH Artichoke Glass, has an expression similar to that of PH Septima. The soft light is diffused through the leaves to produce soft comfortable light. Lit as well as unlit, the fixture leaves have an “ice look” that adds elegance and lightness to any room.