Nilaveli Woven Jute Sphere Pendant Light - Natural

The Nilaveli is a sphere, 56cm in every direction, made by winding jute thread round a metal frame until the frame disappears under it. The winding runs vertically in dense close passes, broken every few centimetres by a horizontal band where the thread changes direction, and the ribs of the frame show through only as faint straight lines. At the top the winding stops at a small open collar where the chain enters. The chain and the ceiling plate are brass, with a rust coloured flex through the links.

Jute is dense but not solid, so the light comes through the thread rather than round it. Switched on, the whole sphere glows evenly and the bulb reads as a soft core near the middle. That makes it a fitting to hang where people look at it, over a bed, in a stairwell or in the middle of a sitting room, rather than over a surface that needs light thrown down onto it. It takes one E27 bulb, it is dimmable, the flex runs 1.5m, and it is rated IP20 for dry indoor rooms.

The thread is jute and the frame beneath it is metal. Jute goes from planting to harvest in four to six months and holds its colour. It is wound by hand, so the spacing of the bands and the tension of the thread differ from one sphere to the next. Bulbs are not included.

Can you see through the jute?

Not quite. The winding is dense, so unlit it reads as a solid sphere. Lit, the light comes through the thread and the whole shade glows.

How large is it?

56cm in every direction. It weighs 2.4kg and hangs on a brass chain with a 1.5m flex.

Is the frame visible?

The metal frame is wound over, so it shows only as faint straight ribs under the thread.

How do I clean it?

Switch it off, then wipe the jute gently with a microfibre cloth. Keep harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners off it.

What is the maximum bulb wattage?

It takes an E27 screw fitting. Fit no more than the maximum wattage marked on the lampholder inside the shade.