The venerable Danish brand mark their long history with a suite of modern heirlooms.
18 September 2024
Text by Brydie Shephard
150 years ago, Ludvig Poulsen started Louis Poulsen as a family business, creating the world’s first house of light and a brand that would grow to be revered across the globe. In their sesquicentennial year, Louis Poulsen are celebrating their history with a reimagining of their most iconic pieces, creating a collection of anniversary editions, special releases, and even a collectible book, each of which pays homage to a legacy of exceptional design.
The Anniversary Collection
The Anniversary Collection, available from Spring 2024, consists of five of the most iconic Louis Poulsen designs: PH Artichoke, PH 5, AJ Mini, PH Snowball, and the Panthella 160 Portable table lamp. Each a masterwork in their own right, the Anniversary Editions maintain the classic silhouettes of their original versions, but add new colour compositions so that the pieces glow in warm whites and pale rose hues, making them original collectables that are only available throughout this momentous year.
Originally designed by Poul Henningsen in 1958, the PH Artichoke is a sculptural masterpiece made up of 72 leaves which are carefully positioned so as to ensure the glare-free light that is characteristic of Poul Henningsen’s designs. The exclusive edition of this piece features a frame of metallised brass, a striking compliment to this refined piece of sculpture. Metallised brass has also been added in the PH 5 Anniversary Edition, where a warm light that almost mimics candlelight creates a unique ambience when positioned in any space.
Henningsen’s PH Snowball will also join the anniversary collection, being presented in a new finish for the first time. A new, white-surfaced shade is combined with a barely-there pale rose tint underneath, and a glossy brass frame, for a sophisticated, warm imagining of this inimitable design. Both the PH Snowball and the PH Artichoke anniversary editions will be made in a limited run of only 300 pieces, with each to be engraved with an individual number to mark its exclusivity.
The remaining two pieces celebrate other noted collaborators of the Danish brand. Arne Jacobsen’s AJ Lamp has been revived in the AJ Mini Anniversary Edition, which sees the stem and switch of Jacobsen’s silhouette now made of polished, untreated brass. This material is designed to patinate over time, with this process framed by the new pale rose hue on the inside of the shade, which shines beautifully onto the brass in the characteristic downward-directed light of the AJ Lamp.
Finally, Verner Panton is commemorated in the Panthella 160 Portable Anniversary Edition, a downscaled and rechargeable version of the popular Panthella Table lamp. This reimagined creation creates a lovely, diffused and glare-free light to any setting indoors or outdoors, and is distinguished by the top nut in eye-catching metallised brass.
Limited edition classics
To further celebrate their 150th year, Louis Poulsen is also set to release additional special editions to more of Poul Henningsen’s creations. From October to December, the iconic PH 2/1 Table Limited Edition Lamp will be available in a new, evocative material finish, with a dusty terracotta-coloured glass shade, a white sandblasted underside, and an aged brass frame forming to create the exclusive design.
The ceiling pendants PH 5 and PH 5 Mini will also have a new look (separate to the metallised brass of the anniversary PH), commemorating Henningsen’s pioneering work with colour by finishing them in new shades of Pale Pewter, Pale Blush, Burgundy, and Dusty Indigo. With the lighter shades fitting Scandinavian and minimalist aesthetics, and the darker tones bringing warmth and texture with chalky saturations of rich colourways, creating visual drama for a suspended feature.
History inscribed
Along with new and special releases, Louis Poulsen will celebrate their 150th anniversary with the release of Louis Poulsen: First House of Light, a hardcover compendium of their work and history released with publisher Phaidon and author TF Chan. The book will include more than 300 archival drawings and photographs – many of which have never been seen before – detailing the collaborations with some of the world’s most renowned designers, and an archival history detailing the last century and a half of the world’s first House of Light.
The Louis Poulsen Anniversary Collection and special editions are available to purchase in Singapore through XTRA, the country’s pre-eminent destination for the leading names in global design. With these exclusive products only available until the end of 2024, be sure not to miss out on these collectible releases by visiting XTRA’s Marina Square showroom.
XTRA
xtra.com.sg
XTRA Singapore: 6 Raffles Boulevard #02-48 Marina Square, Singapore 039594
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