Poul Henningsen (Danish, 1894 - 1967)

PH Septima 5 - 1928 Glass and nickel-plated brass - 50 cm Ø Edited by Louis Poulsen The PH Septima suspension lamp is regarded as one of Poul Henningsen's most refined lighting pieces. It was first exhibited as a prototype at the Danish Museum of Decorative Arts (now Designmuseum Danmark) in 1928, where it was received with much admiration. Based on the PH 5/5's three-shade system, the glass crown has four additional shades inserted between the three basic shades - all seven produced in very delicate, yet strong Italian borosilicate glass. The clear glass shades are treated to appear with alternating clear and frosted fields and are positioned so that the frosted fields cover the clear fields underneath, allowing the shades to dispense light in a more diffused, downward direction. In addition, a round glass dome is placed at the top to prevent dust from falling into the lamp. In the 1940s, the PH Septima stopped being produced like many other lamps at the time, due to a shortage of raw materials.