Glass wall sconce
Glass is the material that transforms light most directly: it softens it, tints it or breaks it up according to the way it is treated. This selection gathers the wall sconces whose diffuser is in blown, moulded or pressed glass, from the milky opal globe to the smoked cylinder. The result changes as much as the shape does.
Opal, smoked, frosted, ribbed
Opal glass, white right through, diffuses evenly and masks the source completely. Frosted glass, sandblasted on the surface, lets the filament be guessed at and produces a slightly livelier halo. Smoked glass, grey or amber, holds back part of the output and gives a denser light, suited to subdued settings.
Textured glass forms a family of its own: fluted, bubbled, hammered or with vertical ribs. Each one cuts the beam into patterns that are cast on the surrounding wall. The mount, often in lacquered metal or brass, serves only to hold the diffuser, and the volume of glass becomes the dominant element.
Diffusion, glare and upkeep
A diffuser closed over its whole surface spreads the output through 360 degrees and removes direct glare, which allows it to be fitted at eye level. Clear glass, by contrast, leaves the source visible: it then calls for a low-intensity filament bulb, under 400 lumens, to stay comfortable.
The tint of the glass alters the perceived temperature. A warm amber warms a neutral source by several hundred kelvin; a pure opal renders the original colour faithfully. As for upkeep, a smooth surface wipes clean with a dry microfibre cloth, while textured glass holds more dust in its hollows. In a living room, these diffusers sit well with the rest of our living room wall sconces.
Wet rooms and living rooms
The bathroom remains natural ground for glass, provided you check the protection rating and respect the regulatory zones around the water point. A horizontal opal tube fitted above a mirror gives even frontal lighting with no shadow under the eyes; see the bathroom wall sconces for suitable models.
In an entrance hall or a bedroom, a single globe set at 1.60 metres serves as a secondary night light. On a dividing wall, two aligned diffusers create a rhythm that is visible even by day, the glass keeping its presence once switched off.
Shapes and effects
Globes and balls
Ball wall sconce in white opal glass
The sphere diffuses in every direction and stays neutral in style. It suits a contemporary interior as readily as a period flat.
Tinted glass
Wall sconce in amber smoked glass
The tint darkens the diffuser at rest and gives a coppery light once switched on. A choice for rooms where a low atmosphere is wanted in the evening.
Worked glass
Wall sconce in patterned ribbed glass
The flutes cast stripes on the wall and enliven a bare surface. These pieces often feature among our original lighting for their graphic effect.
Compare the glass treatments according to the softness of light you are looking for in each room.