The Varlin TL3 is a 550mm three-light table lamp withspeckled mirrored glass shades in black threeG9 globes to 6W each, not supplied, on1.8metres of flex.

It plugs into a power point. Our page said itmust be installed by a licensed electrician. It has1.8metres of flex and is ClassII double insulated fit three globes and plug it in. Removed.

Speckled mirrored glass and what it actually does

This is the whole reason to buy a Varlin, and it needs explaining becausemirrored glass is a strange thing to put on a light. A mirrored shadereflects rather than transmits, so most of the light stays inside it. Thespeckles are the trick they arepoints where the mirroring is absent, so light escapes through them asscattered pinpricks.

The result is three small constellations rather than three lit shades: the glassreads dark and reflective, catching the room, whilefine points of light escape from it. On a table lamp, atclose range, that effect is far more visible than it is from a ceiling you canactually see the individual points.

The consequence: this is not a reading lamp. Most of theoutput stays behind the mirroring. Three 6W globes sound like plenty, and thelight in the room will be low and textured, not bright. Buy it foratmosphere and put a functional light somewhere else.

It does not change colour. Our record carries acolour-changing flag against it. It takes three ordinary G9 globes and includesnone there is nothing in the fitting capable of it.

550mm tall, on a 150mm base

185mm wide, with 120mm shades, on a150mm base only 25mm thick, at 1.8kg. The low flatbase is where the weight sits, which is what keeps a 550mm lamp steady on a small footprint noticeably more stable than the Valtor table lamp’s 1.07kg on 90mm.

Three globes to buy, and they matter here

Three G9 to 6W each 18W in total, none supplied. Because lightescapes through speckles rather than a diffuser, thequality of the point source shows:

• Use three identical globes three slightly different whites across threeshades is obvious at table height.
• Choose warm, 2700K. The escaping pinpricks read ascandlelight when warm and as LED indicator lights when cool.
• A compact clear G9 concentrates the effect better than a frosted one.

Dimming depends on the globes our record carriesno value at all, the datasheet says globe dependent. On a plug-in lamp that needs aninline or plug-in dimmer with three dimmable G9s. On this fittingdimming is more worthwhile than usual: dimmed, the speckles are essentially all yousee. Ask us and we will match the set.

Part of a five-piece range

Varlin runs as three pendant sizes, this table lamp and a floor lamp, all in thesame speckled mirrored glass. That is unusually complete, and with a look this distinctive,repeating it at two or three heights works far better than mixing it with anythingelse.

IP20 indoor and dry locations only.

Where it works

• Consoles and side tables, as atmosphere at close range.
• Bedrooms, dimmed low, where the speckles are the whole effect.
• Alongside Varlin pendants and the floor lamp.
• Not a reading lamp most of the light stays in the mirroring.
• Buy three identical warm globes. They show.

Specifying it

550mm high by 185mm wide, shades120mm, base 150mm by 25mm, flex1,800mm, 1.8kg, iniron and mirrored glass, matte black. ThreeG9 globes to 6W each 18W total,not supplied; dimming is globe dependent and needs an inline orplug-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

Do I need an electrician?

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

What does speckled mirrored glass do?

A mirrored shade reflects rather than transmits, so most of the light stays inside it. The speckles are points where the mirroring is absent, so light escapes as scattered pinpricks three small constellations rather than three lit shades. On a table lamp, at close range, you can actually see the individual points.

Is it bright enough to read by?

No, and it is not meant to be most of the output stays behind the mirroring. Three 6W globes sound like plenty, but the light in the room will be low and textured. Buy it for atmosphere and put a functional light elsewhere.

Does it change colour?

No. Our record carries a colour-changing flag against it, which is wrong it takes three ordinary G9 globes and includes none.

What globes should I fit?

Three identical warm 2700K G9s, compact clear rather than frosted. Light escapes through speckles rather than a diffuser, so the point source shows: warm reads as candlelight, cool reads as LED indicator lights, and three slightly different whites across three shades is obvious at table height.

Can I dim it?

With three dimmable G9s and an inline or plug-in dimmer. On this fitting it is more worthwhile than usual dimmed, the speckles are essentially all you see.

Is it stable?

Reasonably 1.8kg with the weight in a low flat 150mm base, which keeps a 550mm lamp steady on a small footprint. Noticeably more stable than the Valtor table lamps 1.07kg on a 90mm base.