Poul Henningsen - Design Evening New York Tuesday, December 12, 2017 | Phillips

Design Evening

New York Auction 12 December 2017

  • Provenance

    Danish Consumers Cooperative Society, Albertslund, Denmark
    Acquired from the above
    Pierre Bergé & Associés, Brussels, "Poul Henningsen: Master of Light," April 3, 2011, lot 82
    Acquired from the above by the present owner

  • Literature

    Tina Jørstian and Poul Eric Munk Nielsen, eds., Light Years Ahead, The Story of the PH Lamp, Copenhagen, 1994, p. 268
    Erik Steffensen, Poul Henningsen, Denmark, 2005, p. 58

  • Catalogue Essay

    Originally designed for the University of Aarhus in Denmark, the "Spiral" ceiling light is an example of the importance of refracted light in Poul Henningsen’s work. In the designer's own words, "The principle in this lamp is much more the same as in the PH lamp and the Globe per se, but the light ray direction is reminiscent of the way it shines outwards from the Globe. The shape is geometric and the light strikes all the parts of the spiral, which are illuminated at the same angle, reflecting it out into the room in the same way."

    The "Spiral" ceiling light was produced only in limited numbers, as each variation of the design was executed on commission and intended for large spaces. Twelve examples of the first 1942 design in aluminum were installed in the University of Aarhus, a further six were produced for the Elementary School in Esbjerg, and finally five examples of the present design were produced in 1964 for the new Headquarters Assembly Hall of the Danish Consumers Cooperative Society (Fællesforeningen for Danmarks Brugsforeninger). This final version noticeably differs from its predecessors, with the polished brass, copper, and aluminum sections lending a far more complex and dramatic lighting effect.

Property from a Private Collection, Europe

209

Poul Henningsen

Rare "Spiral" ceiling light, designed for the Headquarters Assembly Hall, Danish Consumers Cooperative Society, Albertslund

1964
Painted aluminum, aluminum, brass, copper.
50 1/2 in. (128.3 cm) drop, 29 7/8 in. (75.9 cm) diameter
Manufactured by Louis Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark. From the production of 5.

Estimate
$200,000 - 300,000 

Sold for $225,000

Contact Specialist
Cordelia Lembo
Specialist, Head of Sale
+1 212 940 1265

Design Evening

New York Auction 12 December 2017