Today’s lighting designs do more than just illuminate. Moving beyond a practical necessity, modern fixtures push the boundaries of colour, form and material, giving them the potential to become a defining element of interior expression. Below, we’ve rounded up pendants, sconces, table and floor lamps that make a statement without sacrificing functionality.

Pendants

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Gio by &Tradition

Referencing Gio Ponti’s Murano chandelier and paying homage to Venetian craftsmanship, the Gio lamp by Luca Nichetto for &Tradition translates the beauty of layered glasswork into spun aluminum and steel. The tiered conical shades cast both an ambient up-light and a focused down-light, and are available in two colour combinations: Signal Green, Deep Blue & Ecru White and Vermilion Red, Dark Burgundy & Ecru White (shown).

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Carnival by Curiousa

Riffing on the fabric patchwork Harlequin motif, the Carnival collection by U.K.-based Curiousa combines porcelain, wood and hand-blown glass shapes to form illuminated art pieces full of warmth and playful character. Composed of three drop chandeliers — Lazzo, Vecchio (shown, left to right) and Bravado — the series is an evolution of the studio’s statement-making Sculptural Stack series.

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Cascade by Lladró

British designer Lee Broom was inspired by traditional paper lanterns when devising Cascade for Lladró. Playing with the translucency of porcelain rather than rice paper and bamboo, the hand-crafted pendant (in three silhouettes) simulates a candlelight glow when turned on and presents as pure white when off; the spheres and cylinders can be arranged in custom vertical iterations.

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Cadiz by Modern Forms

Comprising an elongated cylinder made from luminous Spanish alabaster, the Cadiz pendant from Modern Forms casts a radiant glow that enhances the natural beauty of the stone’s veining. Slender metallic straps (in aged brass or antique nickel) add an elegant contrast while the ultra-thin aircraft cable suspension keeps the overall look sleek and fuss-free.

Wall Lights

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Miami 1 by Aqua Creations Studio

Part of the Metropolitan Family by Aqua Creations Studio, the Miami 1 wall light embodies its namesake city’s iconic art deco MiMo style with thickly lined bold curves, varying textures and saturated hues. Framed in metal, the four handcrafted illuminated panels are made from a combination of silk, handmade raw paper, suede, acrylic and maple veneer, and can be configured in almost endless ways.

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Nest by Origin Made

Simple and charming, the Nest lamp by Origin Made creative director and co-founder Gabriel Tan nestles a blown-glass sphere within a concave depression of solid ash wood (or local Portuguese marble). Each expertly handcrafted fixture highlights the beauty of the natural materials.

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Aria by Gaspare Asaro

The hand-blown glass half-dome of the Aria collection (which includes a spherical pendant) from Gaspare Asaro can be configured with up to six accent globes. Offered in two sizes and three colours (clear, light rose or light blue), the globes can be mixed and matched at will.

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Caleide by De Castelli

With the Caleide collection from De Castelli, designer Federica Cammarota turns steel, brass or copper discs into multi-toned mosaics through arrangements of geometric shapes that bisect the metals’ alternating oxidized and brushed finishes. A frosted blown-glass orb at the centre of each diffuses light across the surface.

Table Lamps

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Stack by Gantri

South Korean studio Bebop recalled childhood building blocks when conceiving the Stack table lamp for Gantri. Made from plant-based polymers, the lamp has generous cartoon-like proportions, diffuses a soft and warm light, and is available in 26 colours, including Sedona, shown.

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Lantern by The Goodman Studio

Inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns and paying tribute to family and heritage, the Lantern collection by Sylvia Lee — creative director of The Goodman Studio — explores cultural symbolism and personal memory. The hand-blown glass lamps are double-sandblasted with woven and lattice motifs and are available in five shapes, patterns and colours.

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Gelato by Established & Sons

Established & Sons worked closely with Italian designer Carlo Nason to reimagine his 1960s wired table lamp as a modernized and portable version called Gelato. Shaped like a dessert cup, the lamp features a removable translucent glass orb with a replaceable LED that is charged using a magnetic charging base. Gelato comes in Spritz (shown), Mint, Azure and Smoke.

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Gambosa by Marset

Seeming to balance one atop the next, the three shapely steel elements
of the Gambosa table lamp that Mathias Hahn designed for Marset create an intriguing composition that is enhanced by the sophisticated palette of each: The shade can be pale pink, black opaque or translucent opal and paired with either an orange or moss grey stem and set on the stone-grey base.

Floor Lamps

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Bender by Axolight

Deviating from conventional pipe-bending processes that result in a smooth curve, Munich-based Alexander Rehn used a “controlled kink” to give his aluminum Bender floor (and table) lamp for Axolight a curious and bold personality. Offered in 15 colours, Bender makes a playful sidekick in any space.

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Iride by Cassina

Cassina recently resurrected the Iride floor lamp — originally designed in 1970 by Ico Parisi — from the architect and designer’s official archive and applied modern-day technology to its structure. Expressing a futurist style, the complex tower features a column of discs (32 or 49, depending on the height) that are illuminated by an internal LED source; activated by the wave of a hand, the dimmable light transitions effortlessly from cool to warm. It’s available in polished aluminum or glossy red (shown).

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Shift by Stackabl

Through an exploration of the creative potential of sustainable cork-related products, Shift was born. A collaboration between Stackabl and Rockwell Group, the striking fixture features a cork base that supports alternating discs of touch-dimmable LEDs and upcycled Merino wool felt remnants. Part of a larger collection called Tilt + Shift that includes multiple table and floor lamps, Shift is offered in two heights.

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Kawara by Pedrali

Named for the traditional Japanese clay tile that often clads the roofs of sacred buildings, Kawara from Pedrali was created by Tokyo-based industrial designer Yusuke Kawai. Aluminum fins (one continuous length or three or five adjustable modules) are connected to a grooved pole by small joining rings that allow the dimmable LED strips to be pointed in various directions. A wide range of colour options is available.