Artichoke Lamp

The Artichoke Lamp was designed by the Danish architect Poul Henningsen in 1958. It was originally created for a restaurant in Copenhagen called the Langelinie Pavilion. It is currently manufactured and sold exclusively by the Danish lighting brand Louis Poulsen.

The lamp features exactly 72 individual "leaves" arranged in 12 precise rows of six leaves each. These leaves are positioned to completely shield the light source from direct view at any angle. The original leaves were constructed from bent steel, though modern versions offer copper and glass options.

The PH Artichoke Lamp can cost over $10,000 because it is an incredibly complex fixture to assemble, requiring the exact placement of 72 separate leaves. Each lamp takes significant manual labor to construct, polish, and perfectly align at the Louis Poulsen factory. The sheer amount of high-quality materials—like spun steel or pure copper—also drives up the manufacturing cost.

The classic Poul Henningsen Artichoke Lamp is available in three primary diameters: 480mm (18.8 inches), 600mm (23.6 inches), and 840mm (33 inches). The 840mm size is the most common for grand entryways and commercial spaces. They also offer smaller pendant versions designed for standard residential ceilings.