The Danish left-wing writer, architect and designer Poul Henningsen (1894-1967) saw electric light as a way of enlightening the people by improving the home and work environment. After comprehensive studies into glare-free multi shade lamps, the electric appliances manufacturer Louis Poulsen enabled him to create the first PH lamp in 1926. The PH lamp was an instant success, sold and used all over the world including the Bauhaus Dessau building.
After the outbreak of WW2 sales fell and by October 1943 Henningsen left German occupied Denmark for Stockholm together with Arne Jacobsen. On his return to Denmark in 1945 Henningsen continued to develop the multi shade lamp system and created many of his most beautiful designs, many still in production, including the highly popular PH5 from 1958. Henningsen left over 100 sketches of lamp designs behind after his death, some which have later been put into production by Louis Poulsen.