The Karos is a 510mm table lamp with asculptural iron base in a wood-look finish, anantique gold stem and a textured shade oneE27 globe to 25W, not supplied, on1.8metres of flex.

Two things to know before ordering.

• It plugs in. The page said itmust be installed by a licensed electrician. It has1.8metres of flex and is ClassII double insulated.
• Walnut is a finish, not a material. The base isiron with a painted wood-look finish our own description says so andthe lamp is iron and fabric. There is no timber in it.

Three materials doing three different jobs

The Karos is more considered than it first looks, and each element is chosen against the others:

• The wood-look base is matte and warm, and it grounds the lamp the visual weight sits at the bottom.
• The antique gold stem is the only reflective element, and it isthin. Against a matte base and a textured shade it reads as afine bright line rather than a shiny object.
• The textured shade is matte and slightly rough, so itabsorbs rather than reflects and the light through it is soft.

The result is mid-century in character: warm, low-contrast, with one deliberatemetallic accent. A polished base or a glossy shade would break it.

510mm tall, with a 300mm shade

510mm high with a 300mm wide, 200mm high shadeon a 130mm base, at 1.57kg.

The proportions are worth noting: a 300mm shade on a 130mm base iswide relative to its footprint, which is what gives the lamp itsgenerous mid-century silhouette and it means the lamp takeslittle table space for the amount of light it spreads. At510mm the shade clears a seated eye line beside a bed or a chair.

The shade is opaque, so light goesup and down rather than sideways and the globe is hidden. That makesthe choice simple brightness and warmth only, and awarm 2700K suits the wood tone and the gold. A cool white against awalnut-toned base looks wrong.

Dimming depends on the globe our record saysNo, the datasheet says globe dependent, and the datasheet is right. Ona plug-in lamp that needs an inline or plug-in dimmer.Ask us and we will match the pair.

Where it works

• Bedsides and side tables a wide shade on a small footprint.
• Consoles and sideboards, in mid-century and warm-toned rooms.
• Beside a reading chair the shade clears a seated eye line.
• The walnut is a painted finish there is no timber in it.
• Use a warm globe cool white against the wood tone looks wrong.

Specifying it

510mm high, shade 300mm wide by 200mm high,base 130mm, flex 1,800mm,1.57kg, in iron and fabric satin wood-look base,antique gold stem, textured shade. OneE27 globe to 25W, not supplied;dimming is globe dependent and needs an inline or plug-in dimmer. 240V,plug-in no electrician required,ClassII double insulated,IP20 indoor and dry locations only. Warranty is three years, as a replacementwarranty.

Supplied and supported by Lights For You.

Questions

Is the base real wood?

No. It is iron with a painted wood-look finish our own description says so and the lamp is iron and fabric. Walnut is the name of the finish, not a material.

Do I need an electrician?

No. It has 1.8 metres of flex and is double insulated fit a globe and plug it in. Our page said otherwise, which was wrong.

Why the antique gold stem?

It is the only reflective element on the lamp, and it is thin. Against a matte base and a textured shade it reads as a fine bright line rather than a shiny object which is what makes the whole thing mid-century in character rather than glitzy. A polished base or a glossy shade would break it.

What globe should I fit?

A warm 2700K E27. The shade is opaque so the globe is hidden brightness and warmth are the only decisions and a cool white against a walnut-toned base looks wrong.

Does it take much table space?

Less than it looks. The 300mm shade sits on a 130mm base, so the footprint is small for the amount of light it spreads that wide-shade-on-small-base proportion is what gives it the mid-century silhouette.

Is it good for reading?

Yes at 510mm the shade clears a seated eye line beside a bed or a chair, so light comes down onto the page.

Can I dim it?

With a dimmable E27 and an inline or plug-in dimmer. Our record says No; the datasheet says globe dependent, and that is right.