New Pamono Vintage AJ Royal 500 Pendant by Arne Jacobsen for Louis Poulsen AS, Denmark

AJ Royal 500 Pendant by Arne Jacobsen for Louis Poulsen, Denmark – Designed in 1960
Modernist Danish ceiling light created for the SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen

The AJ Royal pendant lamp was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1960 for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen—an iconic example of “total design” in modern architecture. Jacobsen created not only the building but also every interior element, including this signature ceiling lamp.

For the hotel’s common areas, Jacobsen developed the geometrically precise AJ Royal pendant. Its shade forms a spherical segment with six horizontal slits near the top. These slits allow soft ambient light to escape upward, while the open base delivers powerful downward illumination. The result is a lamp that glows softly while providing functional task lighting below.

The pendant came in two sizes: a smaller 370 mm version intended to hang high, and a larger 500 mm version (as offered here), designed to hang lower with a more dramatic visual presence. Both originally used three or four bulbs for even distribution of light.

This example is the AJ Royal 500, the medium/large model, with a powder-coated aluminium shade, white-painted interior for optimal light reflection, and an original Louis Poulsen label confirming its authenticity. The AJ Royal series continues to be produced today and is considered a milestone of Danish design.

Design Details
• Designer: Arne Jacobsen
• Manufacturer: Louis Poulsen
• Country: Denmark
• Year: 1960 (design)
• Model: AJ Royal 500
• Label: Original Louis Poulsen label still present
• Materials: Powder-coated aluminium, white-painted interior
• Diameter: 50 cm
• Light Source: E27 bulb(s)
• Features: Upward slatted diffusion and direct downward lighting

Historical Context
Created as part of Jacobsen’s visionary design for the SAS Royal Hotel (now the Radisson Collection), the AJ Royal was a radical departure from ornate chandeliers—introducing a sleek, sculptural language that shaped mid-century modern lighting. Today it remains an icon of Scandinavian design thinking and architectural integration.