Five Beautiful Sconce Lights for the Contemporary Home

The word "sconce" comes from the Latin absconsus via the French esconce, which means a covering or protection - or something that is covered and protected.

It's also a kind of fortification from the Middle Ages, a protective "hill" which offered defense for artillery units.

Obviously, we don't deal with earthwork castle fortifications. We deal with lighting, and a sconce is a light fitting that uses only the wall for support - it doesn't have a base on the floor.

They are used for functional and decorative purposes, and here are some of our favourites from the online store:

Nordlux Vanila Black Wall Spotlight

This curved spotlight from Scandinavian minimalist Nordlux is made from metal, which only makes it a little more like something you might find on the Nostromo from the Alien movie.

Astro Lighting Azumi White Wall Light with a Reading Light

On the one hand, the Azumi is a classically styled wall light from the renowned Astro Lighting, but it also features a flexible LED reading light as a hidden bonus.

Artemide Dioscuri

These spherical laser-etched Artemide wall lights are designed by Michele de Lucchi and come in four sizes: 140mm, 250mm, 350mm, and 420mm.

Manerbio Walnut up- and down-light

With its walnut finish, the rectangular Manerbio blends into its surroundings, like a tiny shelf, perhaps a vantage point for an intrepid Borrower. But it's actually a stylish uplight and a downlight! [note: this product has been discontinued]

Artemide Miconos Glass & Chrome Wall Light - exposed bulb

Exposed bulbs are so hot in lighting design right now, and Ernesto Gismondi's Miconos lamp, for Artemide, is ahead of the curve with its clear-blown glass diffuser.