150 years of Louis Poulsen: Anniversary collection

Louis Poulsen: 150 years of lighting icons

In 2024 Louis Poulsen will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a very special anniversary collection that stands as a homage to the company's rich tradition and at the same time as a look into the future of lighting design. By collaborating with leading designers and integrating the latest technologies, Louis Poulsen continues its vision of changing the world with light.

Founded in Copenhagen in 1874, Louis Poulsen started out as a wine importer before the introduction of electricity in the Danish capital which encouraged the small family business to develop as a lighting manufacturer; a process that, more or less, began with an unprecedented collaboration with Poul Henningsen in 1924.

The design credo “form follows function” also characterizes Louis Poulsen’s lights. Each design element is specifically designed for a specific purpose, without unnecessary ornamentation or decor. Rather, there is a strong focus on quality and craftsmanship. For Louis Poulsen, light is the focus – everything begins and ends with it. The passion for craftsmanship forms the basis for Louis Poulse's high-quality lighting and design solutions. The company also maintains close partnerships with innovative designers and artists; collaborations with greats such as Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen and Ólafur Eliasson have contributed significantly to the success of the legendary light objects.

Louis Poulsen's lamps transcend time and place, characteristics that make them genuine design icons. Louis Poulsen's 150th anniversary is however not only a celebration of the past, but also a promise for the future, an invitation to explore the company's incomparable history and take your appreciations for light and design to a new level.

Lights on for the Louis Poulsen Anniversary Edition

To mark its 150th anniversary Louis Poulsen proudly presents an exclusive special edition that captures the essence of its decades of excellence. The Anniversary Collection features the AJ Mini Table Lamp, the PH 5 pendant lamp and the PH Artichoke pendant lamp, and impresses with its unique colour combination: the outside of the shades is painted in a minimalist matt white, while the inside radiates in a pale pink. The special luxury of the anniversary edition is underlined by polished brass details that develop an individual patina over time and bequeath the lights a special charm. The anniversary lights are only available in 2024 and are produced in a strictly limited edition. The PH Artichoke is only available in an edition of 300 pieces in both sizes, each object bearing an individual number.

150 years of “House of Light” Louis Poulsen

The 1920s up to the Second World War

The year 1924 marked a crucial turning point for Louis Poulsen, when the company began a lifelong collaboration with Poul Henningsen, the Danish Master of Light. A partnership that began when Henningsen took part in a competition in which the winner received the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. Which Henningsen not only won but also won a Gold Medal in Paris for his novel lamp design.

Henningsen's vision of making light purer, more economical and more aesthetically pleasing through scientific research became the driving force behind this collaboration. And a vision which shaped not only Henningsen's works, but also the philosophy of Louis Poulsen, and paved the way for collaborations with other innovative designers, which in turn built the foundation on which the manufacturer's reputation was established. And over the decade has created true lighting icons.

Danish Master of Light: Poul Henningsen

In 1926, Louis Poulsen & Co., together with Poul Henningsen, received the prestigious contract to illuminate the new Forum building in Copenhagen, using the legendary PH lamp.

In the 1930s, the highly influential architect Vilhelm Lauritzen designed the legendary VL 38, VL 45 and LV Studio lights for his Gesamtkunstwerk, the new headquarters of the Danish Radio (Radiohuset).

During the challenging war years Poul Henningsen designed a blackout lamp for the Tivoli in Copenhagen. This innovative lamp allowed the theme park to stay open after dark without attracting the attention of enemy planes.

PH lamp in a school

PH lights as far as the eye can see in 1926

Louis Poulsen in the 1950s

1958 marked another milestone in the development of Louis Poulsen with the introduction of a timeless classic: the PH 5 pendant lamp by Poul Henningsen. Today found in countless households worldwide and known simply as the PH lamp, it is based on Henningsen's innovative three-shade system.

A Louis Poulsen sky in the 1950s/60s

A year after the introduction of the PH lamp Louis Poulsen began their fruitful collaboration with the charismatic Danish architect Verner Panton. Panton was characterized by his strong sense of light, space, colour and material, as well as a playful approach to lighting. The partnership started with the design of the Topan lamp and led to the creation of the legendary Panthella.

The 1960s: Era of the SAS Royal Hotel

At the beginning of the decade, Arne Jacobsen presented his AJ lights in collaboration with Louis Poulsen. These lights were specially designed for the SAS Royal Hotel, Arne Jacobsen's defining "Gesamtkunstwerk". Jacobsen not only designed the architecture of the hotel, but also the furnishings, including furniture, lighting, crockery and other details

The AJ Mini table lamp from the anniversary collection

During this period Louis Poulsen's business experienced significant growth and in 1962 the first subsidiary outside Denmark was established in West Germany. In the following 40 years numerous international branches were opened - from Europe to America and Australia to Japan.

Poul Henningsen died in 1967, but his significant design legacy and lighting philosophy remain an integral part of Louis Poulsen to this day.

Milestones of light from the 1970s to today

In 1977 Louis Poulsen was listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, and throughout the decade the range was expanded for wholesale and a collaboration initiated with the outstanding architect and designer Jens Møller Jensen, who designed the famous Albertslund outdoor lamp. Many highlights followed, including the 100th birthday of Poul Henningsen in 1994, accompanied by the publication of a new book about the history of PH lamp. In 1999, Louis Poulsen celebrated its 125th anniversary with events worldwide and an international design competition for emerging architects.

In 2005 Louis Poulsen began working with the Danish-British designer Louise Campbell, who designed the popular Collage lamp. In the same year Louis Poulsen presented the installation “Northern Light”, realised in collaboration with Peter Bysted Design, at the Expo 2005 in Aichi (Japan).

In 2010, Louis Poulsen celebrated the 50th anniversary of the opening of the SAS Royal Hotel with the launch of the AJ Royal series, which presented five new colours inspired by the original colours of Arne Jacobsen's Egg and Swan armchairs. The AJ 50 wall light for outdoor use was also presented. That same year, Louis Poulsen received the prestigious AIA Honors for Collaborative Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects.

Over the course of the decade, Louis Poulsen intensified his collaboration with international designers like nendo, Øivind Slaatto, Clara von Zweigbergk, GamFratesi and Carsten Fischer/Henning Larsen, to its imprressive roster. In 2016 new showrooms were opened in Lysaker (Norway) and Los Angeles.

In 2020 Louis Poulsen launched new versions of its iconic design classics, including the PH 5 in new monochrome finishes and the PH Artichoke in black. And also introduced the Panthella Portable, a compact, portable version of Verner Panton's popular table lamp. Anne Boysen also designed the sculptural Moonsetter floor lamp for the TV competition "Next Danish Design Classic", which marked the starting point for a further collaboration with Louis Poulsen.

Panthella 160 Portable in the new opal pale blue version

Louis Poulsen is also known for his sustainability and energy efficiency efforts. The company relies on high-quality materials and modern technologies to create environmentally friendly lighting solutions. These efforts are reflected in products that are both aesthetically pleasing and resource-efficient.

Louis Poulsen has made a significant contribution to the world of lighting through its commitment to design innovation, quality and sustainability and continues to be a leading player in the industry. And in all probability will be for the next 150 years.