Corda Stone Sconce

The Corda Stone Sconce from Solae Design is built around a column of natural alabaster, a stone that glows from within rather than bouncing light off its surface. The effect is unmistakably different from glass: warmer, softer and slightly uneven, with the stone's own veining visible in the light. Because that veining is natural, no two sconces are ever quite alike.

Solid brass hardware anchors the column to the wall and gives the fixture real weight in the hand and on the wall. It is available in a single-head or two-head configuration and in three metal finishes, brass, black or nickel, so it can read warm and traditional or cool and restrained depending on what surrounds it.

Mounted bedside it replaces a table lamp and clears the nightstand. Along a hallway it turns a pass-through into a considered space, and above a reading chair it puts light where you actually need it. The form borrows from mid-century proportions without copying them, which is why it sits comfortably in interiors that are otherwise hard to shop for. Alabaster is a natural stone, so expect small variations in thickness and translucency between pieces; these are characteristic of the material rather than defects, and they show most clearly once the sconce is lit.

• Shade: genuine natural alabaster column, unique veining on every piece
• Hardware: solid brass
• Finishes: brass, black, nickel
• Configurations: one-head or two-head
• Light quality: warm internal glow, low glare
• Best for: bedside, hallway, reading corner, living room
• Installation: hardwired, fitting by a qualified electrician recommended