Marvin Alexander Lamps Known for antique and reproduction lighting, Marvin Alexander has introduced a deco-influenced table lamp with a base of colorful or colorless crystal. The choice of shade is up to you. 212-838-2320; marvinalexanderinc.com.
Manjaca 5 Ans and T Some turn lamp shades into hats. Joséphine Repetto of Manjaca turns lingerie-style lace into lamp shades—for a touch of pure romance. An allusion to her fifth wedding anniversary, 5 Ans is shaped like an engagement ring, only with a lacy shade instead of a diamond. And the simple lace screen in front of T's 40-watt bulb leaves little to the imagination. For both table lamps, the lace is offered in black or gray. 33-6-03-81-43-97; manjaca.com.
Urban Archaeology Gio Ponti It's a salute to two European masters. The Gio Ponti chandelier incorporates glass cubes salvaged from its namesake's Alitalia office in New York. The painted-aluminum Mouille sconce, as in Serge, is distinguished by lamps that switch on and off separately. 212-431-4646; urbanarchaeology.com.
Nora Lighting Angoor Hung above tables and counters, Angoor pendant fixtures create dramatic effects. That's because the light, low voltage or line voltage, shines through shades made from glass beads in red, amber, aqua, or clear. Select one of four shapes: oval, round, cylindrical, and flared. 800-686-6672; noralighting.com.
Bleu Nature Triton For the folks at Bleu Nature, making good design is a day at the beach—combing the sandy shores of northern France for driftwood. "I love these gifts from Mother Nature," founder and general director Frank Lefebvre says. He used to work exclusively with this free-spirited material when he founded his furniture and lighting company in 1995. Sometimes he still does: The Triton chandelier looks like the makings of a great bonfire, though it lights up with the help of six 25-watt bulbs, not a match. Other pieces in his repertoire incorporate different natural materials. The three Tropique floor lamps' groovy fringed shades are made from goat's hair, while the floor lamp Aqsarniit is crowned by a paper globe shade. Table lamps featuring conventional cotton shades are Qaqortoq, its stacked base accented by gestural jags; Nerikoh, anchored by a bundle of vertical twigs; and Rafiot, a cubist composition available in two heights. With another table lamp, Nvya, Lefebvre abandons driftwood altogether in favor of smooth stones arranged on a square lacquered-steel base. 33-3-20-11-18-16; bleunature.com.
Bocci 21 For a mix of diffused light and crisp spots, cluster a selection of 21 pendant fixtures. Each unique shade is frosted borosilicate blown glass, wrapped in raw white porcelain, and each is suspended from a superfine steel cable that doubles as a power cord for the low-voltage halogen bulb inside. 604-710-4486; bocci.ca.
Ivalo Lighting Daedalus Conceived by Audi, dynamic Daedalus fuses automotive design and sculpture on a monumental scale—there's a full 5-foot drop between the aluminum ceiling plate and the bottommost of the feathered glass blades. The fixture accepts eight dimmable MR11 halogen lamps. 610-282-7472; ivalolighting.com.
LumiSource Nessie Nessie may be named for the Loch Ness Monster, but we think this flexible bedside lamp for kids looks more like Tickle Me Elmo. Other versions sport animal prints or a range of colors in spandex or furry polyester. The LEDs can be set to shine bright white or to change colors. 888-461-5864; lumisource.com.
Alan Tanksley Paperclip chandelier As the paperless office becomes a reality, 4,000-plus aluminum clips find a new function. After commissioning several of these chandeliers for projects by his namesake firm, Alan Tanksley assumed the role of manufacturing partner for their designer, Gary Ponzo. The partnership has produced a number of custom efforts for residential and hospitality settings. In addition to the paper clips, each fixture features a chrome canopy and rod and a half-silvered bulb suspended from black silk-wrapped wire. 212-481-8454; alantanskley.com.
Babette Holland Design Kiss and Ostrich Although their shapes seem fresh off a potter's wheel, the shades of the Kiss, Ostrich, and Val pendant fixtures are actually hand-spun aluminum, offered in fade finishes including Smoke and Mirrors, Deep Mocha Rust, copper, and ice blue. Coordinating sconce and table lamp available. 718-349-1325; babetteholland.com.
