Rotating Desk Lamp

The shade on this desk lamp pivots. Grip it, turn it, and the beam swings from the page in front of you to the wall behind, which is the difference between task light and mood light without buying two lamps. The body is iron with a smooth painted finish, weighted low so a one-handed adjustment does not tip it. At 35 cm high and 15 cm across the base, it takes up about as much room as a coffee mug and a saucer and stands steady on a flat surface.

On a study desk it earns its place by pointing where the work is: down onto notes, then up to lift the room when the work stops. On a nightstand the same movement turns it away from a sleeping partner. In a reading corner beside a chair, aimed at the seat back, it makes a pool of light without lighting the whole room. The soft colours it comes in read as decoration during the day, which matters for a lamp that sits at eye level.

The fitting takes an E27 bulb, warm or cool as you prefer, and the 1.6 m cord plugs into a normal outlet, so no wiring is involved. Dust the shade with a dry cloth and keep the vents clear. Vandora chose it for the pivot more than the look, because a lamp you can aim is a lamp you keep using.

• Fixture type: Table and desk lamp
• Material: Iron
• Dimensions: 15 cm (6 in) diameter × 35 cm (13.8 in) high
• Shade: Rotating, adjustable beam direction
• Bulb: E27, LED or incandescent, not included
• Power: Plug-in, cord approx. 1.6 m (5.2 ft)
• Use: Desks, nightstands, reading corners