The New “It” Lamp Is Like a Work of Art for Your Home

Danielle BlundellExecutive Director of Home
Danielle BlundellExecutive Director of Home
As Apartment Therapy's Executive Home Director, I head up our decorating, trends, and designer coverage. I studied Media Studies at UVa and Journalism at Columbia and have worked in media for more than a decade. I love homes, heels, the history of art, and hockey — but not necessarily in that order.
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Desk area with blank lamp and pants next to a large window in a bedroom.
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Credit: Craig Kellmann

There’s a new “it” lamp in town, and it’s maybe more humble than you’d expect: the stoneware lamp 2.0. Although some potters and ceramicists have been making stoneware lamps for some time now, designer Shea McGee of Studio McGee put this stoneware-on-stoneware silhouette on the mass-market map with her diffusion line over a year ago. The viral style has sold so well, it’s often never on the shelves, despite now being available in three different colorways. 

The thing that makes these lamps so special is their form. They’re incredibly sculptural and feel substantial compared to others because the shades have the same visual gravitas as the bases. Often finished with tiny finials to keep those heavier shades in place, these pieces truly look like mini works of art and have such a presence (the striking, often monochromatic matching base and shade finishes don’t hurt, either). Hear a little bit more about the trend below, and shop a few of my favorite styles.

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Credit: Danielle Blundell

What Makes These Stoneware Lamps Different?

Lamps with ceramic bases rose in popularity during the mid-century modern era, so it’s not like they’re a new phenomenon. So what sets this crop of lights apart from others is the shade. Instead of pairing a bold ceramic base with a light and airy fabric material shade, these pieces carry the stoneware onto the shade — the shade often matches the base of the lamp exactly. The result is a highly sculptural form that makes a statement, whether you set yours on a side table, console, nightstand, or even a fireplace mantel (that’s where I have mine, as shown above). A smaller style is also great for styling out a shelf or setting on a kitchen counter. 

One thing to note: Dome-like shades made of heavier materials like ceramic or metal are certainly visually striking, but they aren’t going to diffuse light the way cotton, linen, polyester, or paper will. These lamps can provide you with direct, focused light, but they’re not going to make a whole room glow with ambiance. 

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Credit: Kiritin

The Most Stylish Stoneware Lamps I Found

These stoneware lamps are tricky to find on a tight budget right now, but I suspect we’ll be seeing more all-stoneware-everything lamps soon. These are my favorites available to shop right now.

Anthropologie Burgundy Bell Table Lamp
$198

With its bell-shaped shade, fluted base, and gorgeous burgundy glaze, this table lamp from Anthropologie is a total stunner. It reminds me a bit of a mushroom and is very similar to the lamp I added to my mantel to try out the “Unexpected Red Theory.”

$198 at Anthropologie
Brayden Studio Galleria Table Lamp
$170$118

This Wayfair cutie combines two trends: the fully stoneware lamp with a little bit of stripe drenching for a whimsical look. Choose from a bunch of color combinations. Some are more playful, like this pink and orange mix, while gray and white can read a little more sophisticated. 

$118 at Wayfair
Crate & Barrel x Venus Williams Ceramic Table Lamp
$599

The new Venus Williams for Crate & Barrel collection includes a table lamp that nails this trend right on the head. At 24 inches tall this style is fairly large, so it’d definitely be a statement piece for an entry table or sideboard. I love the green because it really shows off the shade’s lovely fluting, but the beige is beautiful, too.

$599 at Crate & Barrel
Brayden Studio Nozay Table Lamp
$235$125

With its petite size and textural finish, this little guy has a handmade vibe. For that reason, I think it’d make a nice touch on a kitchen counter for an extra dose of task light.

$125 at Wayfair
West Elm Rory Ceramic Lamp
$229$183

If you want a very mid-century version of this trend, look no further than West Elm’s Rory Ceramic Table Lamp. It comes in two colors — white and black — and is great for smaller spaces, thanks to its slim, streamlined base.

$183 at West Elm
Lulu and Georgia Ingleman Table Lamp
$298

Okay, I’m cheating a little bit here because the Ingleman Table Lamp from Lulu and Georgia is actually made of glass. But it captures the matching shade and base trend so beautifully in the most striking sky blue color. I’d put this on a dresser in a kids' room — or use it for a pop of color in a living room.

$298 at Lulu and Georgia

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