Banyan 5 Light E14 Pendant Light 60cm Midnight Black - Matt Black

Five slim arms curve out from a matt black hub and rise back up into a single wide drum, so the lamps sit within the fabric rather than below it. The shade is faux silk in a dual make-up, midnight black with olive green, and it spans 60cm, which gives the piece plenty of width without much bulk. Each arm carries a candle lamp on an E14 socket, and the fabric takes the edge off the light they give, holding it soft across the room.

We would hang this over a dining table, in a wide hallway, or at the centre of a sitting room where a single large piece does more good than several small ones. The drop adjusts over a good span, so it can hover close above a table or ride higher where people pass beneath it. Fitted with dimmable candle lamps it will wind down to something quieter for the evening, though the dimmer switch itself is a separate purchase. It is meant for dry rooms indoors, away from bathrooms and anywhere steam gathers.

The metalwork is finished in matt black with almost no shine to it, which lets the dark shade and its olive green lining do the talking. Keep the faux silk dry: a soft brush or the upholstery head of a vacuum on a low setting will lift dust from the fabric, and the arms need no more than a dry cloth now and then. It carries a one year warranty. Lamps are not included, and we would choose LED candles here, both for the running cost and because the slim glass suits a shade this deep. Against pale plaster or a warm timber table it reads calm rather than heavy, and it pairs happily with brass or bare wood elsewhere in the room.

What lamps does it take, and how many?

It takes five candle lamps on E14 sockets, rated to a maximum of 20W each. LED candles in the C35 shape are the sensible choice. Lamps are supplied separately.

How far down does it hang?

The drop is adjustable from 340mm at its shortest to 1800mm at its longest, measured to the top of the fitting, with the shade itself 220mm deep.

Can it be dimmed?

Yes, provided you fit dimmable lamps and a compatible dimmer switch. Neither the lamps nor a dimmer come with the pendant.

What is the shade made from?

Faux silk fabric over a 600mm diameter drum, in midnight black with olive green, on a matt black metal frame.

How should the fabric be cleaned?

Dust it with a soft brush or a vacuum upholstery head on low suction. Avoid damp cloths and sprays, as moisture can mark faux silk.

Is it suitable over a dining table?

Yes. At 600mm across it works well centred over a table of six or more, and the adjustable drop lets you set it at a comfortable height above the surface.