Apsara Double Wall Light

Two winged figures in cast brass, each lifting a flame of frosted glass.

Bulbs not included | 2-year warranty

We call it Apsara, after the celestial nymphs of Indian myth, but its roots are in early nineteenth-century Paris. The design follows the French Empire style, the grand neoclassical manner of Napoleon's court around 1800 to 1815, when Parisian bronze-makers cast wall lights with winged figures, torches, laurel and ribbons borrowed from ancient Rome and Greece.

In that tradition, the backplate carries a tied ribbon bow, a reeded staff, and a trophy of oak leaves and acorns around a beaded oval medallion, with tasselled cords falling below. Two turned arms reach out to either side, and on each sits a winged sea-nymph with a wreath in her hair, her body ending in a coiled, scaled fish-tail, one arm raised to hold a torch to the light. Every element is cast in brass and given an antique finish, darker in the recesses so the modelling of the wings, scales and leaves stands out.

Each torch carries a shade of frosted satin glass moulded into a rising flame, its surface swirling with licking ridges. The frosting softens the bulb into an even, milky glow, while the moulded ridges catch the light so the flame seems almost to move.

What makes Apsara distinctive

• Cast in brass: The figures, wings, scales and leaves are cast rather than stamped, so the detail has real depth and weight.
• French Empire design: Winged figures, torches, laurel and ribbon bows, in the neoclassical language of early nineteenth-century Paris.
• Frosted flame shades: Satin-frosted glass moulded as a torch flame gives a soft, glare-free glow.
• Made to order in India: From Delhi Brass, a fourth-generation lighting and decorative metalwork company.

Materials & dimensions

• Material: Cast brass
• Shades: Frosted satin glass, moulded as a flame
• Finish: Antique brass
• Height: 20 inches / 50.8 cm
• Width: 19 inches / 48.3 cm
• Projection from wall: 8 inches / 20.3 cm
• Light source: Two E14 bulbs, one in each shade (not included)
• Warranty: 2 years
• Product code: 10554

Finding the right spot

Apsara belongs in a classical room: above a console in an entrance hall, on panelled walls in a dining room, or as a pair on either side of a fireplace, a gilt mirror or a large painting. Mount it with its centre at about 165 to 170 cm from the floor, or with the tassels about 40 to 50 cm above a console. For a warm, candle-like glow, use warm white (2700K) E14 LED bulbs.

Care

Switch off at the mains and let the bulbs cool before cleaning. Dust the brass with a soft, dry brush to reach into the cast detail, and wipe the glass shades with a barely damp cloth. Avoid metal polish, abrasives and chemical cleaners, which will strip the antique finish.

Before you order

Apsara is made to order and priced per light. It takes two E14 bulbs, which are not included, and comes with a 2-year warranty. Production takes 10–14 days, followed by 4–6 days for delivery.

Explore more wall lights, including the Shuka Double Wall Light and the Darpan Mirror Wall Lamp.