A stone lamp uses natural stone for its shade, its body or its base. The stone decides how the lamp lights the room: some stones stay opaque and send the light in one direction, others are translucent and glow from within when they are cut thin. This guide compares the stones used in lighting, gives the real dimensions of our six stone lamps, and covers where to use them, weight and care.
Opaque or translucent: the question that matters
| Stone | With light | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Travertine | Opaque: the light leaves through the opening and the stone stays matte | A natural limestone with visible pores and soft bands of colour |
| Marble | Translucent when cut thin, showing its veins; opaque as a solid base | A harder, heavier crystalline stone |
| Alabaster | Translucent, with a soft, even glow | A soft, fine-grained form of gypsum; the word is also used for the look of a pale glowing stone |
For more detail, see our travertine lamp guide and alabaster and marble lamps: what is the difference.
Our six stone lamps, with real dimensions
| Model | Type and stone | Size | Light | Suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travertine Stone Pendant Light | Pendant, travertine with a wood ball | Shade Ø 15 × H 11 cm, cord up to 180 cm | Warm white LED, falls downward, not dimmable | About 5–10 m² |
| Travertine Walnut Pendant Light | Pendant, travertine with a walnut ring | Ø 17 cm, cord 170 cm | Warm white 3000K, 7 W, not dimmable | About 3–5 m² |
| Travertine Wall Sconce | Wall light, travertine on a wood or white plate | H 16 × W 6.5 × D 6.5 cm | Narrow downward beam, not dimmable | About 3–5 m² |
| Travertine Wood Cap Wall Sconce | Wall light, travertine with a wood cap | Shade Ø 11 × H 15 cm, wall plate Ø 10 cm | Warm white, downward, not dimmable | About 1–3 m² |
| Spanish Marble Alabaster Wall Sconce | Wall light, Spanish marble | H 50 or 75 × W 20 × D 10 cm | Whole stone glows, 15 W or 25 W, 3000K to 6000K, dimmable | About 5–10 m² |
| Cordless Marble Table Lamp | Table lamp, marble base and opal glass shade | H 23 cm, shade Ø 17 cm, base Ø 7 cm, approx. 1.95 kg | 3 W LED, 3 brightness levels, 8–12 hours per charge | Not stated |
What the numbers tell you
- Stone lamps are accent lights. The five models with a stated area are suited to spaces of 1 to 10 m² each. In a larger room, use two or three, or pair them with a ceiling light.
- Travertine sends light down. All four travertine models light the surface or the wall below them. They suit a bedside, a counter or a row along a hallway.
- Only the marble sconce glows as a whole. It is also the only model listed as dimmable, and the one with the most power (25 W in the 75 cm size).
- Small is normal. The travertine pendants measure 15 and 17 cm across, so they are usually hung in pairs or rows of three.
Where stone lamps work best
- Beside the bed: a pair of travertine sconces gives each side its own light. See how high to hang bedside sconces.
- Over a kitchen island: two or three small travertine pendants in a row. See pendant light height over a kitchen island.
- Entryway or staircase: the tall marble sconce, which the product page suggests for an entryway, a staircase, either side of a fireplace or above a console.
- Anywhere without a socket: the cordless marble lamp. See our cordless table lamps guide.
For wall lights that pair stone with wood, or use ceramic and plaster instead, see our guide to ceramic and wood wall sconces.
Real stone or stone look?
Natural stone varies from piece to piece: the pits and tones of travertine and the veins of marble are never identical twice. Some lamps borrow the shape of stone without the material. Our Glowing Pebble Table Lamp has the outline of a pebble but is made of white rotomoulded plastic, which is why it glows evenly all over. Always check the material line on the product page.
Weight and installation
Stone is dense, so a stone lamp is heavier than a fabric or paper one of the same size. The Cordless Marble Table Lamp weighs about 1.95 kg on a 7 cm base, and that weight is what keeps it stable. The weights of the pendants and sconces are not listed on their product pages: if you are fixing one to a plasterboard ceiling or wall, message us before ordering and use a fixing suited to the load. Hardwired lights should be installed by a qualified electrician.
How to clean a stone lamp
Switch off and let the lamp cool, then wipe it with a dry or slightly damp soft cloth. Avoid acidic cleaners such as vinegar or lemon, which can mark travertine and marble. More in how to clean lamp shades.
The small travertine block of the Travertine Wall Sconce, only 6.5 cm deep, is one of the pieces in our guide to minimalist lighting, with plaster, aluminium and crystal sconces and real sizes.
Stone is one of several materials in our guide to sculptural lamps, which compares plaster, marble, ceramic, glass and acrylic lights with real sizes.
Frequently asked questions
Do stone lamps give a lot of light?
They are accent lights. Our stone lamps with a stated area are suited to spaces of 1 to 10 m² each.
Which stone lamps glow?
Those made of translucent stone cut thin, such as our marble wall sconce. Travertine is opaque: the light comes out through the opening.
Are stone lamps heavy?
Heavier than fabric or paper lamps. The Cordless Marble Table Lamp weighs about 1.95 kg. For the other models, ask us before installation.
See all models in our travertine and stone lighting collection.
