A dreamy new range of porcelain lights casts a timeless glow

Understated and serene interiors are known to stand the test of time, but it’s sometimes difficult to choose lighting to match. Antique-style lighting can be over-fussy, while mid-century options are often too sterile. Porcelain lighting, however, has both the qualities of timelessness and tactility that add to the texture of a space without dominating it.

Studio Enti’s latest range of porcelain pendants, wall lights and sconces exemplifies these qualities, and Director Naomi Taplin says it was important to create a collection that would last through the fads and fashions. 

“The range is versatile in the sense that it can easily be used in any interior, and it has longevity. I think that’s important because they’re an investment and so they’re designed to withstand fashion changes, which also makes them a sustainable choice.”

Studio Enti was initially known for its porcelain tableware, but has utilised the understanding of how light interacts with the material to create a lighting range that plays with ambiance, translucency and the throw of light.

“We tried to build out a range that really celebrates both the colour and sculptural qualities of the porcelain, but also what happens to it when the light is added, which is really beautiful.”

The new range features tonal variations of greys, blues and greens, and has been used by designers, architects and homeowners in domestic and commercial spaces to complement both traditional and contemporary aesthetics. 

The lights use Australian clay, and are all made in the Sydney workshop by a team of skilled ceramicists. Most of the lights are slip-cast from liquid porcelain poured into moulds, which were originally created from clay forms turned on the wheel. 

“The colour is mixed in with the liquid porcelain, which is a really nice way to get the colour into the clay because it creates a very subtle effect, “ says Naomi. “There are still many parts of the process where it goes through human hands, imbuing it with qualities that make each light unique, so they're never identical even though we use moulds.”

It’s a very small batch production process, and the range of 24 colours together with fittings in brass, antique brass, brushed nickel, and black, means there’s a huge number of options to choose from. 

Studio Enti also works with specifiers to create custom lights for special projects when needed. 

“Within our colour range and metal fittings, we can adapt to suit any project where an elegant and understated light fitting is needed.”

Here are three lights from the new range that Naomi says are perfect for creating a serene ambience.