Abask has just launched its first-ever lighting collection, and every piece feels like a little work of art. The catch? The price tags are just as elevated. Luckily, the high street has been delivering plenty of design-led lamps, too.
Abask is known for championing craftsmanship and ambitious design. From hand-blown glassware to Italian textiles, it's the kind of destination where interiors lovers can happily lose an afternoon browsing beautiful things. And their debut lighting collection fits right in.
Scrolling through these investment pieces – priced between £300 and £6,000 – they feel distinctive, artful and highly collectible.
Featuring over 200 styles, both new and vintage, the collection showcases metal, wood, leather, shell, glass, brass, paper, bronze, marble, stoneware and ceramic in unexpected ways, creating objects that sit somewhere between lighting and sculpture.
Take Yuzuan Huang's design, for example. Hand-painted Kozo paper is paired with a dark wooden base to create a delicate, expressive form that calls to mind a butterfly in flight or a naively drawn flower.
'Our focus with the launch of our lighting category has been to work with exceptionally talented makers that make collectible home-design objects that sit at the intersection of art and function,' says Abask co-founder Tom Chapman. 'The team has worked meticulously to ensure that the collection is one that offers a unique point of view.'
If, like us, you've been admiring the new collection while accepting that spending several thousand pounds is not quite on the cards, we've got good news.
As it turns out, Abask isn't the only brand making the case for artful lighting at home. Some of our favourite high-street retailers have also been busy launching structural, design-led lamps that are as practical as they are decorative.
8 high-street lamps that double as art objects
1. Yinka Ilori bell-touch table lamp, Dunelm
In July, Dunelm unveiled an exclusive collaboration with artist and designer Yinka Ilori. This dimmable table lamp, £65, combines architectural form, bold colour and everyday functionality, making it a joyful focal point for a bedside table, console or reading corner.
2. Mushroom table lamp, Urban Outfitters
Compact and characterful, Urban Outfitters' mushroom lamp, £22, is an ideal bedside companion. Its organic silhouette and coloured glass finish also make it a charming design object for a shelf, where it can sit among books, ceramics and other treasured pieces.
3. Made.com Axel table lamp, John Lewis
This brass lamp from Made, available at John Lewis, is a clever lesson in indirect lighting. The bulb sits within the base, casting light into the vertical curved shade, creating a soft, golden glow. Sculptural and unexpected, it is a lamp that doesn't look like a lamp at all.
4. Luomo table lamp, Westwing
This architectural lamp from Westwing, £179, makes an impact through contrast: a simple white shade is paired with a bold, sculptural blue base that could almost stand alone as a decorative object. Together, they strike the right balance between playful and practical.
5. Brass Stanton table lamp, Next
For those drawn to refined materials, this squat table lamp, £60, from Next is a strong contender. Its wide brushed-brass base is paired with a fresh take on the classic empire shade, which resembles a rounded umbrella. The textured linen softens the look and creates a warm, inviting glow.
6. Glass bedside lamp, Stack & Clear
Elegant Glass Bedside Lamp with LED
This lamp from Stack & Clear gets playful with shapes. An internal LED rod is encased within stacked hand-blown glass forms placed on top of each other, creating a striking sculptural effect. Available in different colours and sizes, it can be tailored to suit a range of interiors.
7. Vivian table lamp, Pooky
Pooky is ideal for anyone who wants to create a more personal piece, thanks to its wide range of mix-and-match lamp bases and shades. The Vivian table lamp, from £150, in ebony is a strong starting point, with a solid base and a tactile, tapered form that feels both classic and distinctive.
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8. All over glass table lamp, M&S
As the name suggests, this £99 table lamp from M&S is made entirely from glass. Its irregular ruffled edges and subtle ombré finish make the bulb appear to be submerged in water when lit, giving the piece a fluid, organic quality.
