Holborn Ribbed Glass Globe Pendant

An Edwardian-style globe pendant: a ribbed prismatic glass globe held in a pierced lattice band of chocolate-brown steel, hung from three lattice rods with antique gold brass leaves.

Bulbs not included | 2-year warranty

In 1893 two engineers in Paris patented a new kind of lamp glass: a globe moulded with fine prismatic ribs that bent the light from a bare bulb and spread it evenly, without glare. Made famous by the Holophane company, these ribbed globes went up in the reading rooms, banks, offices and railway stations of late-Victorian and Edwardian London, and from there to the public buildings of Bombay and Calcutta. Hung from dark iron rods and bands, they became one of the quiet signatures of the early electric age.

The Holborn is made in that spirit. A clear glass globe in two halves, moulded all over with fine vertical ribs, is held at its widest point by a pierced band of chocolate-brown painted steel, cut in a repeating lattice. Three dark rods, each with an open diamond-lattice section, rise from rings on the band to a single hook and crown. Where the rods meet the band, curling brass leaves in an antique gold finish catch the light, and a small brass finial closes the globe below. Three bulbs sit inside, so the whole globe glows.

What makes the Holborn distinctive

• Prismatic glass: A ribbed glass globe that spreads the light softly and evenly, without glare.
• Pierced lattice band: Chocolate-brown steel cut in a repeating lattice around the middle of the globe.
• Brass accents: Antique gold brass leaves at the rings and a brass finial below.
• Two sizes: Large (20 in globe) and Small (15 in globe).
• Made to order in India: From Delhi Brass, a fourth-generation lighting and decorative metalwork company.

Materials & dimensions

• Material: Mild steel, with brass accents and ribbed glass
• Finish: Chocolate brown paint on the steel; antique gold on the brass
• Large: 20 inches / 50.8 cm diameter, 38 inches / 96.5 cm high
• Small: 15 inches / 38.1 cm diameter, 37 inches / 94 cm high
• Light source: Three E14 bulbs (not included)
• Minimum ceiling height: 9 ft over a table; 10 ft where people walk beneath
• Warranty: 2 years
• Product code: 10388 (Large 10388-L, Small 10388-S)

Finding the right spot

The Large suits a study or library desk, a dining table of 48 to 72 inches, or the centre of an entrance hall. The Small works over a kitchen island or breakfast table, along a corridor, or as a pair either side of an opening; over an island of 7 to 9 feet, hang two or three in a row. Over a table or island, hang it so the bottom of the globe sits 30 to 34 inches above the top. Elsewhere, keep at least 7 feet of clearance below it. Use warm white (2700K) E14 bulbs on a dimmer.

Care

Switch off and let the bulbs cool before cleaning. Dust the steel and brass with a soft, dry cloth. Clean the glass with a barely damp cloth, working along the ribs, then dry it at once. Keep water off the painted steel, and avoid polish, abrasives and chemical cleaners, which will damage the finishes.

Before you order

This pendant is made to order in your chosen size. It takes three E14 bulbs, which are not included, and comes with a 2-year warranty. It is delivered with its rods and canopy. Production takes 10–14 days, followed by 4–6 days for delivery.

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