Here at Iconic lights we are compiling a list of our favourite lighting designers and to kick us off in this series is Poul Henningsen. We love his lighting designs and we hope you do too!

Poul Henningsen was born in Copenhagen in 1894 and he is better known as PH. His range of designer lighting inherited this nickname and this is why when designers mention the name PH, they think about Danish lighting design and why iconiclights.co.uk believe he is a true design icon of our time.

Originally he trained to be an architect at the technical college in Copenhagen, but never graduated. Instead he became a self taught inventor who started practicing functional architecture but his true interest in lighting design soon changed his direction.

During WWII he was forced to leave Denmark because of the German occupation and soon became a vital part of the colony of artists living in Sweden, where he also became known as a writer, a journalist, author and critic.

PH's obsession with light started when electricity was introduced into Danish homes, when he found the glare given off the bulbs too harsh.

This was unsatisfactory and he wanted to find harmony in this new form of lighting. He began experimenting and creating designs of his own which eventually led him to start working on his iconic lighting designs.

In 1924 PH began working with Louis Poulsen to produce a lamp that would have the same soft, calming qualities of the petroleum lamp and would become his most famous work, the 3 shade PH lamp.

In preparation for the Paris industrial design exhibition in 1925, he took part in a competition on home lighting and ended up winning six prizes. He then developed his winning ideas and the PH lamp was finally unveiled to the world at the 1925 World Expo in Paris.

The PH lamp was the result of 10 years of scientific study and incorporates tiers of shades, allowing the user to direct light in several different directions without exposing the internal light source.

According to Henningsen: "the whole trick is not directly illuminating more of a room than is strictly necessary"

The PH Artichoke, arguably one the most iconic lights ever made, develops the same idea as the PH lamp by using even more panels and layers of shades. The design centers on a 360-degree glare-free light created by 72 leaves, that of course resemble an artichoke. PH was commissioned to design the artichoke by the Langeline Pavilion restaurant in Copenhagen, where the lights still hang today.

The few remaining rough sketches show that its basic design was conceived very quickly.

The PH Artichoke is a true timeless classical masterpiece. The structure is made of steel arches with the leaves attached to the frame. The light is reflected and directed upon the leaves, until it illuminates the entire artichoke. You can view the fixture from any angle without seeing the light source, which is located in the center of the light.

Iconic lights are proud that their designer lighting collection includes the PH artichoke light.

This iconic light is available in a range of colours - Click here to view