A Light In The Dark
It’s the end of April, the log store is depleted and the fireplace is dark. The house sits quietly, waiting for the warmer days and the windows to be flung open, brooms taken in hand and cobwebs banished. The winter chill still nips the air and the English gloom looms over us. Will the sunshine ever come? While we wait for the light to return, we can take those dark domestic corners in hand and bring life into our homes with colour and form. Even the dingiest of hallways and the darkest of paintings can have warmth and life injected into it when accompanied by the right lamp. So, without further ado, may we light up your day with this selection of joyful lighting to accompany some of our darker artworks.
Dark in subject matter, dark in colour. We love this piece here in the studio. The nature of “beasts” was a particularly dark, yet popular topic in the Victorian period and this dramatic scene is a prime example of the era’s predisposition with the dark and wild.
The danger with scrolling through the Midbott Century’s Instagram feed is that you may never come out. The endless feed of the most unbelievable pieces of mid century lighting design is an absolute dopamine fix!
Shop here: www.midbottcentury.com
Textured and earthy, this large scale abstract makes us think of woodland undergrowth or overgrown buildings. A great size for hanging over a mantlepiece to catch the flickering shadows of a roaring fire.
It might be dusk, but this artist has brought warmth into this darkened dockland scene. The glowing lamps in the windows reflect on the calm water. Peace and serenity abound.
Everything that Parvum Opus touches turns to… marble. These guys can do no wrong when it comes to smothering every object imaginable in the most eye popping hand marbled papers. Their lamps are no exception, with clashing lampshades and geometric bases on luxurious, glistening brass feet. We particularly like the all chartreuse number seen above!
Shop here: www.parvumopus.com
The simplicity and honesty of this antique still life is perfectly complimented with the shadowy composition and darkened hues. The gilt frame glints wonderfully in soft low light.
The insanity of some of the vintage toleware that Shiny Things London have sourced is truly breathtaking. Adding an, often surreal, twist on lighting, these guys search high and low for some of the most incredible vintage pieces on the market. We have to keep reminding ourselves that there is only so much toleware you can have in your house before you end up looking a bit insane… or is there…?
Shop here: www.shinythingslondon.co.uk
The Victorian's are notorious for their sombre mourning portraits, so much so that history seems to remember the entire era as being full of only black mourning suits and dress, void of colour and fun. Whilst this isn’t strictly true, we must admit, we do love the drama of the dimly lit sitters, swathed in luxurious black velvet and silk.
Legato is new on our radar, here in the Studio and we are blown away by the work that goes into each and every lamp. Showcasing the natural, textured, flowing forms found in the world around us in unique and beautiful ways, each Legato lamp takes approximately six to eight weeks to make.
Shop here: www.legatostudio.co.uk
Welcome to the zany and surreal world of Mattina Moderna. We have been following them on their journey for a while now and have seen them morph from a stylish vintage lamp seller, into a slick homeware brand producing their own seamless, eye popping designs. Gloom, be gone!
Shop here: www.mattinamoderna.com
Despite the darkening that comes with age, this 19th Century landscape has splashes of colour shining through that pick out the silhouettes of the dramatic tree line, echoing the foliate detailing on the fabulous original gilt frame. Although it’s moody, this one would certainly softly glow in a dimly lit corner.
We could see this sombre lady softly illuminated by an overhanging green glass library lamp above a luxurious high backed armchair in a busy print. A specific vision, we know, but we reckon it would work.
The maximalist in us adores the all over prints in Poodle and Blonde’s lighting collection. They even have a “create your own” option where you can customise your fabric and print options! Some of our favourite prints are the “Tottenham Dalmatian,” “Margate Marble” and “Chain of Fools.”
Shop here: www.poodleandblonde.com
Chunky, square pig in an authentic Oxford frame… What more could you want?
A dramatic, almost brutalist piece that perfectly encapsulates the overcast skies of this long and gloomy April.
This collection of vintage Murano glass candy lamps from Mille Fiori are giving major Willy Wonka vibes (in the best possible way, of course)! Positioning one of these next to an austere Victorian portrait of a lady in black would be a super fun way to put a vibrant twist on antique art.
Shop here: www.millefioriinterior.com
Russian artists are well used to the long darkness of their Baltic winters and this painting by Boris Borsch, seems to emulate such a palette in this bold scene. The use of large blocks of grey and black mean that the tiny areas of colour in the fallen leaves sing out all the more.
Another vintage seller with a penchant for superb toleware, Wallis Antiques always has a super exciting list of stock up for grabs, including furniture, mirrors, lighting and much more. Even though they have a wide variety of pieces in stock, Wallis Antiques is the queen of wall sconces in our humble opinion, with a great eye for vintage brass versions!
Shop here: www.wallisantiques.com
Another warm toned and earthy piece, this mid century still life is both stylish and unassuming, making it the perfect piece to be propped on a kitchen shelf or, if you’re feeling a bit extra, hung tucked away in a pantry, because who doesn’t want to look at art while grabbing an onion?
