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

A slender matt black frame reaches out on five arms into one wide faux silk shade, so the light spreads from a broad ring rather than a single point overhead. The shade is 60cm across and shallow in profile, black on the outside with a white laminate lining that pushes the light back down into the room. Candle lamps sit in E14 sockets within the shade, kept out of direct view. The suspension is adjustable, so the fitting can sit fairly tight beneath a ceiling or hang well down over a table.

We reach for this one where a dining table or a seating area wants a generous, soft pool of light and a glass fitting would feel too hard. It works over a long table, in a wide hallway, or centred in a sitting room, and because the drop extends to 1.8m it also copes with a taller landing or a stairwell where a shorter pendant would look lost. Dimmable candle lamps will let you take the level right down of an evening, though the dimmer module itself is a separate purchase. We would choose LED candle lamps here, both for the low running cost and for the cooler air inside a fabric shade.

The arms and ceiling plate are metal in a low sheen matt black, and the shade is faux silk stretched smooth over its drum, with the laminate lining giving the inside a clean pale face. Keep water away from the fabric altogether: a soft brush or the upholstery head of a vacuum on its lowest setting will lift dust from the outside, and the metalwork needs no more than a dry duster now and then. It is a fitting for dry, heated rooms indoors, so leave porches and bathrooms to something sealed. The black and white pairing sits happily against pale walls or a deeper paint colour, and the shallow shade keeps the whole thing quiet in a room that already has plenty going on. It carries a one year warranty. Lamps are not included.

How many lamps does it take, and what type?

Five, each in an E14 socket. LED candle lamps in the C35 shape suit it best, at up to 20W each.

Can I dim it?

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

How far down does it hang?

The drop adjusts between 340mm and 1800mm, with a body height of 220mm above that.

What is the shade made of?

Faux silk fabric over a 60cm diameter drum, 15cm deep, black outside with a white laminate lining.

How do I clean the fabric?

Dry methods only. Use a soft brush or low suction to take off dust, and never a damp cloth or cleaning spray on the faux silk.

Is it suitable for a bathroom?

No. It is rated for dry indoor rooms only, so kitchens, hallways, bedrooms and living spaces rather than bathrooms or covered outdoor areas.