Louis Poulsen is world-renowned as an innovator in modern Danish lighting, but this wasn’t the goal from the start. Founded in 1874 by Ludvig R. Poulsen as a wine importer, the business went through several incarnations before its first pendant lights came to fruition. Through its designs, the company helped establish the foundations of good lighting — function, comfort and ambience — that are now standard in modern furniture design.
In 1924, Danish architect Poul Henningsen partnered with Louis Poulsen & Co., then an electrical supply company, to create what’s now known as the Paris lamp. This design, which incorporated three layers of curved metal disks, created ambience with its indirect light instead of glare. Shown at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris — the exhibition that brought Art Deco design to worldwide attention — the Paris lamp was awarded a gold medal. This led to Poulsen and Henningsen working together on several lighting pieces, including the popular PH pendant light with its concentric shades for the Forum Building in Copenhagen. These high-profile projects helped make Louis Poulsen a go-to purveyor of innovative lighting design.
One of the company’s most well-known lamps is Henningsen’s PH Artichoke lamp (1958), with its 72 copper leaves artfully placed to conceal the light bulb, prevent glare and promote a warm, alluring glow in any room. Another is the steel and die-cast zinc AJ lamp (1960), which Arne Jacobsen designed with an adjustable angled shade for his commission for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. The company has also worked with notables such as Verner Panton and Alfred Homann as well as, more recently, Louise Campbell and Oki Sato.
In 2010, the company was awarded the American Institute of Architects’ Honors in Collaborative Achievement Award; it was the first lighting manufacturer to receive this honor. In 2018, the company was acquired by an investment subsidiary of Investindustrial VI L.P.
Still headquartered in Denmark, the brand continues to produce its high-end lighting for both indoor and outdoor use, manufacturing both classic icons as well as new designs. “We design to shape light,” states Louis Poulsen. In doing so, they have also shaped culture.
Find a range of new and vintage Louis Poulsen floor lamps, table lamps and other lighting and furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid-Century IT Task Lamp from Louis Poulsen, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century IT Task Lamp from Louis Poulsen, 1970s - Rare desk lamp by Poulsen based on a design from 1972 - The IT lamp is based on the designs and principles of Poul Henningsen - ...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern IT Task Wall Lamp from Louis Poulsen, 1970s
By Ole V. Kjaer, Alfred Homann, Louis Poulsen
Located in Hamburg, DE
Flexible desk lamp by Poulsen, based on a 1972 design. Shown here in a wall-mounted version. The IT Desk Lamp is based on the designs and principles of Poul Henningsen. This is prim...
Metal
Mid-Century IT Task Lamp from Louis Poulsen, 1970s
By Louis Poulsen
Located in Hamburg, DE
Flexible desk lamp from Poulsen according to a draft from 1972. Here in the short version. The IT Desk Lamp is based on the designs and principles of Poul Henningsen. This is primar...
Metal
Mid-Century Chrome IT Task Lamp from Louis Poulsen, 1970s
By Louis Poulsen
Located in Hamburg, DE
Flexible desk light from Poulsen according to a draft from 1972. Here in the very rare version in chrome. The IT Desk Lamp is based on the designs and principles of Poul Henningsen....
Metal
Mid-Century German L-1 Table Task Lamp by Jac Jacobsen for Luxo, 1960s
By Jac Jacobsen
Located in Hamburg, DE
The Luxo L-1 "Architect Lamp" is a design classic after a design by Jac Jacobsen from the 1930s. Here in a previous version. The design and unspeakably functional and almost did not...
Metal
Mid-Century German L-1 Table Task Lamp by Jac Jacobsen for Luxo, 1960s
By Jac Jacobsen
Located in Hamburg, DE
The Luxo L-1 "architect light" is a design classic for a design of Jac Jacobsen from the 30s. Here in an early version with pressure switch on the front. The design and unsagon func...
Metal
Articulating Desk Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An articulating desk lamp having a brass stem with patina and off-white enameled hood and base.
Brass, Steel
1950s Hala Zeist Style Mid-Century Clamp-On Task Lamp White
By Hala Zeist
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century industrial clamp-on task lamp in the style of Hala Zeist, Dutch, 1950s. White enameled aluminum cone shade connects to a two-segment articulated arm with multiple pivot p...
Metal, Aluminum, Enamel
Midcentury Work Adjustable Table Lamp Designed by Josef Hůrka for Napako, 1960
By Napako
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of lacquered metal - Re-polished - Fully functional - Good, original condition.
Metal
1950s Hala Zeist Style Mid-Century Clamp-On Task Lamp
By Hala Zeist
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century clamp-on task lamp in the Hala Zeist style, produced in the 1950s. White enameled aluminum conical shade mounts on a multi-segment chrome stem with articulating joints an...
Metal, Aluminum, Enamel
Postmodern Counterweight Desk Lamp by Robert Sonneman, USA 1970-80s
By Robert Sonneman, Sonneman Lighting
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Ingenious desk lamp with a counterweight mechanism which allows the lamp to be stable in every position. The spheric counterweight is solid steel and heavy enough to point or positio...
Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Italian mid-century Adjustable table lamp Naska Loris by Jac Jacobsen Luxo 1950s
By Luxo, Jac Jacobsen
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern Adjustable table lamp Naska Loris by Jac Jacobsen for Luxo, 1950s Table lamp mod. Naska Loris with round base,...
Metal
