Lighting

CL Sterling

Hang loose with the Tiverton exterior pendant. Available in small (13 inches high by 9 inches wide) and large (19 inches high by 12 inches wide) versions, this modern square lantern houses four candelabra bulbs and comes in polished-copper, architectural-bronze, and

brushed-nickel and -brass finishes. Frosted borders on its clear glass panes add another subtle detail. 162 Joshuatown Road, Lyme, CT 06371; 860-434-3744; clsterling.com .

Kartell

Designed by Ferruccio Laviani, the Gé hanging light scintillates with a ridged polycarbonate shade in transparent green, yellow, pink, or blue. Or, for a dramatic contrast, choose opaque black or white with an interior in gold or chrome. The light uses a 100-watt bulb, and its height is adjustable from 21/2 to 71/2 feet. 39 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-966-6665; kartellus.com .

Griffith Atelier

The incandescent Lunar light looks out of this world. Its white opal hemispherical cap is mounted on a black powdercoated-steel "space frame"; leave it empty, or display and illuminate an object beneath the hovering light source above. Box 2433, Rural Route 2, Hallstead, PA 18822; 570-967-2534; griffithatelier.com .

Luxo

"Sleek" only begins to describe the fluorescent Arca Twin luminaire. The heads, which provide uplighting and partial downlighting, can be positioned individually and are made of metallic ABS with polypropylene covers that come in a range of transparent and iridescent colors. The linear configuration is joined by wall, partition, floor, and pendant variations. 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523; 800-222-5896; luxous.com .

Leucos

Lumina's Aurora halogen wall sconce, designed by Ettore Cimini, lays it on thick. Deep layers of extra-clear or frosted glass are shaped into a faceted diffuser that produces a twinkling glow. The mount is coated steel with a brushed-aluminum finish. P.O. Box 7829, 11 Mayfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837; 732-225-0010; leucos.com .

Florian Schulz

The Cina suspension light is—to use a passé slang term in the most literal sense possible—totally tubular. It's adjustable in height from 48 to 62 inches, and its solid-brass housing is triple-plated in polished or matte nickel and is pierced by either six or eight halogen light sources. Through Plug, 8017 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046; 323-653-5635; pluglighting.com .

Lamplight Designs

The glass globe of the three-candelabra Essex lantern is suspended within a decorative frame that invokes an 18th-century theme. Select from an array of 22 finishes, ranging from oxidized copper and pewter to distressed silver and gold. Or go out on a limb with a double-rail version that supports two lanterns hung at either end of a 66-inch bar. P.O. Box 1216, 117 North Spring Street, Mason, TX 76856; 800-862-3525; lamplightdesigns.com .

Urban Tribe

While staying in a beach hut in the southern Philippines, designer Michael Jansen was captivated by the way light filtered through its walls. The rest of us can settle for Fusuma, the woven-rattan torchère that was inspired by the designer's experience. The piece measures 20 by 7 by 73 inches. 5516 West Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630; 866-203-1501; urbantribedesign.com .

Corbin Bronze

The Fleur sconce is a bulb within a bulb. The tulip-like cast-bronze holder is available in patina finishes ranging from natural to green-brown to black. The light comes in single and double versions, all with a hand-finished look. 201 Wyandotte, Suite 102, Kansas City, MO 64105; 816-842-0496; corbinbronze.com .

Donghia

Part of the Florentine Gem collection, the Tondo and higher-shouldered Pera table lamps are made of hand-carved wood. Each is hand-painted using a Renaissance-era technique and is rubbed with stains or covered in metal leaf. Three finishes are available: onyx, Perla, and Rubino; each finish coordinates with a fabric-over-paper shade. 979 Third Avenue, Suite 613, New York, NY 10022; 800-366-4442; donghia.com .

Dform

Part of Dform's popular Punch Pattern series, the 3 Saucer pendant undulates with interlocking pieces of birch (shown) or aspen veneer laminate. The serpentine curves are closed off with a matte acrylic diffuser. Also choose from two- and four-lobe versions, to be launched soon. 63 Flushing Avenue, Unit 178, Suite 317, Brooklyn, NY 11205; 718-384-6887; dformdesign.com .

CPLighting

The Wood Snap sconce by Christopher Poehlmann is a natural beauty. Its shade is constructed of plywood that's been laminated onto clear polycarbonate. Grooves cut into the wood filter the light of two 75-watt incandescent sources. (The piece can also be configured for a single fluorescent.) Also available as a drum pendant. 3720 North Fratney Street, Studio 3F, Milwaukee, WI 53212; 866-597-4800; cplighting.com .

Antoine Proulx

Patterned after an abstract interior from a Francis Bacon painting (note the shadows), the LT-120S exterior wall sconce is a square column of stainless steel punctured with laser-cut gridlike openings. The piece comes in two sizes—a 5-by-5-by-15-inch version and a 10-by-10-by-15-inch version—and with five baked-on epoxy finishes (shown in bronze). 3320 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018; 800-457-0756; antoineproulx.com .

Jonathan Browning

Inspired by Holland's 16th- and 17th-century golden age, the Het Paleis sconce recalls the decorative turned forms that were popular during that era. Available in faux ivory (shown), black walnut, and with a red-and-black lacquer treatment, the piece comes with a silk shade and bronze mounts in a dark or polished-nickel finish. 379 Collingwood Street, San Francisco, CA 94114; 415-401-9999; jonathanbrowninginc.com .

Bowles and Linares

The Honesty pendant chandelier has nothing to hide. Its two hand-blown spindles, in amber or clear glass, house three candelabras each and are suspended on black silk cords that terminate with four dangling bulbs. Customization is offered. Through Plug, 8017 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046; 323-653-5635; pluglighting.com .

Vitra

Cloud is the first light designed by Frank Gehry for serial production. The defining feature of the piece—which is available as a hanging, standing, floor, and table lamp—is a paper-like polyester shade that can be crimped and shaped by the user, though the sculptural effect remains pure Gehry. 29 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10014; 212-463-5750; vitra.com .

Rezek

Circles and squares make a good fit with the incandescent Petronilla Round suspension light, designed by Ernesto Gismondi. Its round and rectilinear diffusers in orange, blue, aqua green, gray, or frosted white acrylic are mounted on corresponding frosted white backs. The piece is joined by square table, floor, and suspension versions. 1980 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735; 631-694-9292; rezek.us .

Lam Lighting

The Luxxtra FL hanging light provides uplighting, downlighting, or a combination of the two—and plenty of futuristic flair. Choose between flush and conical lenses; rigid-stem, steel-chain, and cable mounts; and a baked-enamel finish in standard white or in a range of colors. The compact-

fluorescent light source mimics metal halide, but operates with up to 24 percent greater efficiency. 2930 South Fairview Street, Santa Ana, CA 92704; 800-732-5213; lamlighting.com .

Laura Spector Rustic Design

This designer always seems to know where the wild things are. Her Sendak lamp is a segment of silver birch tree trunk (it also comes in a hand-finished cast-aluminum version) with a standard black vellum shade (other options available). It can even be hung upside down like a chandelier. 786 Westport Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06824; 203-254-3952; lauraspectorrusticdesign.com .

Schonbek

Forming a perfect sphere, the Da Vinci halogen chandelier sparkles with thousands of Swarovski Strass crystals. To achieve a uniformly dazzling effect, all have been positioned with flawless precision—in a way Leonardo himself would have appreciated. Four sizes, from 10 to 24 inches in diameter, are offered. 61 Industrial Boulevard, Plattsburgh, NY 12901; 800-836-1892; schonbek.com .

Lightolier

The Vetro pendant evinces a spare, almost immaculate modernism. Its hand-blown opal glass diffuser—available with an optional clear or frosted outer shade—can be ordered in cylindrical, conical, or wall-mounted variations. Available with compact-fluorescent or incandescent lamping. 631 Airport Road, Fall River, MA 02720; 508-679-8131; lightolier.com .

Davide Groppi

Here's a bright idea: a light that pays homage to the light bulb. The Edison 1 table lamp, part of a larger collection of similarly inspired pieces, takes the shape of a large bulb in a metal "socket" with a matte white or matte nickel finish. The lamp uses a 60-watt version of the real thing. Viale dell'Artigianato 36, Piacenza, I-29100 Italy; 212-941-9941; davidegroppi.com .

Rotaliana

The Cloud suspension lamp is a perfect embodiment of celebrated architect Toyo Ito's principle of "fluid substance." He designed this freeform light as a floating stack of five thin sheets of white translucent acrylic. A single frosted globe emanates incandescent light from a round aperture in the center. Available in two sizes: 211/3 and 321/3 inches. 15 Old Sherman Turnpike, Danbury, CT 06810; 800-713-2182; rotaliana.it .

BarDel

See all that glitters a bit more clearly (should you not be blinded by the shimmer) with the L104/3/02-07 N, a dazzling single-tier crystal chandelier measuring 16 by 19 inches. Produced using centuries-old techniques, this Austrian-made piece incorporates three small candelabra-base incandescent bulbs and is available in a variety of custom sizes, designs, colors, and finishes. P.O. Box 652, Tenafly, NJ 07670; 877-422-7335; elitebohemia.com .

Palmer Hargrave

Get a double dose of classic elegance with the Dureau sconce. Inspired by a pair of French bronze appliqués from the turn of the last century, this solid-brass incandescent fixture comes in 11 finishes ranging from brass to polished nickel to pewter, and can be customized for other lighting functions. 308 West Mill Street, Plainville, KS 67663; 785-434-2011; palmerhargrave.com .

Artemide

The One-Line compact-fluorescent table lamp, designed by Ora Ito, offers maximum reach in a minimal form. Its pale-gray extruded-aluminum arm houses a diffuser with a slightly protruding red side-screen that incorporates a power switch. The lamp rotates 360 degrees on its die-cast-aluminum base. The 25-inch-long piece, also available as a clamp light, stands 16 inches high and sits atop a 61/2-inch-wide base. 1980 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735; 631-694-9292; artemide.us .

Studio Lilica

The Cake pendant is irresistible enough to live up to its name. Its flame-resistant fabric shade—in vinyl or a poly-Lycra blend in white, orange, red, or custom colors—is stretched over a coiled fiberglass frame. Incandescent and compact-fluorescent options are available. 4390 Lynd Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006; 626-447-5079; studiolilica.com .

ILEX Architectural Lighting

The Salon sconce is the very soul of sophistication. Its mouth-blown cased-glass shade, in red or white, is mounted on a metal arm and brass back-plate in a bronze, nickel, pewter, or brass finish. The light also comes in single or multiple (from 7 to 12) pendant configurations and is wired for candelabra lamping. 82 Stevens Street, East Taunton, MA 02718; 800-977-4470; ilexlight.com .

Hèmèra

True to its name, the Mayfair light is as fresh as a spring day. Its shade is formed by panels of resin-encapsulated fabric—either white linen or sheer black—and its brass frame comes in oil-rubbed bronze, polished-18-karat-gold, and polished- or brushed-nickel finishes. The pendant is closed at the top and bottom, respectively, with a perforated grid and an acrylic panel. Available in two sizes (24 and 30 inches square) and in incandescent or fluorescent versions. 2461 Des Carrières, Montreal, Quebec H2G 1X8, Canada; 514-277-9363; hemeralighting.com .

USA Illumination

Barely-there Bevel recessed lights, available in square or rectangular versions, comprise interior walls that gently slope up to a white frosted-glass diffuser, which provides even illumination. The light is also offered as a compact-fluorescent fixed downlight or wall washer; low-voltage and metal-halide models are an option. 1126 River Road, New Windsor, NY 12553; 845-565-8500; usaillumination.com .

Derek Marshall

The trippy Vortex pendant is three curving, rhombic panels of kiln-formed art glass with a bold blue-and-white-swirl pattern. The metal arms are offered with bronze, brass, black-oxide, or brushed-chrome finishes; choose from a range of glass styles, as well as wall sconce and single to sextuple pendant versions. 85 Upper Road, Sandwich, NH 03227; 800-497-3891; derekmarshall.com .

Jan Jander

The Oval table lamp adds a quiet, rhythmic presence to a room. Its tapered acrylic lenses float above a concrete base in integral gray, dark gray, black, or white, and its 30-watt fluorescent light source glows from within an oval hollow. The piece measures 4 inches wide, 333/4 inches long, and 15 inches high. 321 South Sangamon Street, Suite 910, Chicago, IL 60607; 205-218-3510; janjanderad.com .

Union Street Glass

The lead-free-crystal orbs of the Urchin pendant are hand-blown to create pointed protrusions that brilliantly refract light from a halogen source. Select from the collection's seven pieces—including pendant, sconce, and table lamp versions—as well as colors ranging from amber, clear, and steel blue to amethyst, ruby red, tangerine, olive green, and a lime called Kryptonite. Through TableArt, 7977 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046; 323-653-8278; tartontheweb.com .

Ingo Maurer

This lighting luminary has expanded his Oh Mei Ma line with the Oh Mei Ma Weiss hanging light. Earlier pieces included gold or silver leaf, but the six aluminum "sails" of this new addition are lacquered white for a crisper, more architectural look. A 300-watt halogen source sends illumination cascading off a bottom plate and onto the sails, creating an uplifting effect. 89 Grand Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-965-8817; ingo-maurer.com .