Rattan wall sconce
Rattan is steam-bent then woven, which lets it form shells, cones and half-globes impossible to obtain from folded sheet metal. Among our wall sconces, these models are the ones that most visibly turn light into drawing. Switched off, they hold the wall like a piece of basketwork.
A weave that draws the shadow
Everything comes down to the mesh. A wide weave lets long rays escape and throws crisp diamonds right up to the ceiling. A tight weave holds the light back, releases only a discreet halo and behaves almost like an opaque shade. Between the two, open-pattern basketwork creates shifting shadows according to the viewing angle.
The colour of the strand plays a part too. Blond rattan, left bare, keeps a honey tone that takes on more colour still under a warm bulb. Versions stained walnut or painted matt white change the relationship with the wall completely: the first blend into dark interiors, the second almost disappear on a pale partition.
Choosing the light source
A bare bulb behind an open basketwork stays visible and can dazzle head-on. Two solutions: an opal glass placed inside the shell, or a frosted bulb of low output. The projected pattern keeps its crispness as long as the source stays small and centred in the volume.
On temperature, stay between 2,400 and 2,700 kelvin: beyond that, the blond strand turns a greenish grey. A dimmer allows a shift from a reading light to a low mood at the end of the day. LEDs suit these closed volumes well, where the heat of a conventional bulb builds up against the fibre.
Bedroom, entrance hall, covered terrace
Rattan sits readily either side of a bed: our bedside wall sconces show mounting heights of between 1.10 m and 1.30 m, measured from the floor, to light a book without disturbing the person alongside. An adjustable model is preferable if uses differ.
In an entrance hall, a single piece above a console sets the mood as soon as you come through the door. On a covered terrace, rattan holds up provided it is protected from direct rain and sea spray. Indoors, it goes naturally with the thick textiles and long-pile rugs of our bedroom wall sconces.
Shapes and pairings
Shells and half-globes
Half-moon rattan wall sconce for a bedroom
The shell set flat against the wall diffuses forwards and lets a halo filter out at the sides. Its shallow depth suits narrow hallways. The pattern of the weave stays legible even switched off.
Cones and flared shades
Rattan wall sconce with an adjustable arm
The cone concentrates the light downwards and serves as a reading light. Mounted on an arm, it moves as the evening goes on. The contrast between the fibre and a slim stem lightens the whole.
Rattan and metal
Rattan and black metal wall sconce
The dark structure underlines the outline of the basketwork and anchors the piece on the wall. This mix runs through our unique wall sconces, where the materials answer one another rather than cancel each other out.
A dry cloth and an occasional pass with a brush are enough to keep these fibres in good order over time.