Nordic Vintage Glass Wall Sconce

Rippled glass, pressed into a shallow round disc, sits flush against a slim metal backplate. The ripples run in even stripes across the face, so the light behind them breaks into narrow bands rather than one flat circle. In cognac the glow reads amber and slightly smoky; in smoke grey it cools down to something closer to dusk; frosted white keeps it plain and even. The glass is thick enough to feel substantial in the hand.

Wall sconces earn their place where a table lamp cannot go. Mounted either side of a bed at shoulder height, this one clears the nightstand entirely and throws light down onto a book instead of into the room. Along a hallway, a pair set two or three metres apart turns a corridor into something you walk through rather than past. It also works flanking a mirror, where the striped diffusion is kinder to a face than a bare bulb.

It measures 24 cm across and stands 20 cm off the wall, which is compact enough for a narrow landing. Installation is hardwired, so plan for a junction box behind the plate. It takes a standard E26 bulb, and a low-wattage warm LED suits the coloured glass best. Dust the disc with a dry cloth. Vandora keeps to fixtures that do one thing properly.

• Fixture type: Wall sconce
• Material: Glass with metal backplate
• Dimensions: 24 cm (9.5 in) wide × 20 cm (8 in) deep
• Bulb: E26, LED, incandescent or fluorescent, not included
• Voltage: 110–240V
• Mounting: Hardwired, indoor use
• Colour options: Cognac, smoke grey, frosted white
• Care: Wipe with a dry cloth