PH 5-4½ & PH 6½-6

Overview

The PH 5-4½ is a four-shade Louis Poulsen pendant by Poul Henningsen, built from white spun aluminium shades with a built-in 3000 K LED.

Construction

• Four concave spun aluminium shades around a central light source
• Rolled aluminium spacers and thin curved vertical struts
• Adjustable internal glare ring with a blue lower face
• White fabric cord and a canopy with the driver inside

Specifications

• Ø 18.3 in x H 12.5 in
• 5.4 lbs
• LED 3000 K, 44 W, 1,755 lm; 0-10 V dimming
• 12 ft cord

The four-shade system

The four-shade system was launched in 1931 as a fixture to be mounted high up, an alternative to the chandeliers in common use, and it was meant to give more horizontal light for walls and shelves. It left the standard range in the 1940s and was redesigned in 1979 by the Danish architects Sophus Frandsen and Ebbe Christensen for the Charlottenborg exhibition building in Copenhagen. They added a blue shade against glare and a more matte white painted surface. The 5/4½ was created for the Aarhus Concert Hall in 1984.