The Chicago Small is a little outdoor lantern that hangs from a chain, made of cast aluminium in a textured black finish with a body of clear, mouth-blown glass flecked with fine air bubbles (seeded glass). A fluted roof caps the lantern and a decorative finial closes it at the bottom. It is Elstead Lighting's own line, styled after classic turn-of-the-century street lanterns.
Size and hanging
The lantern itself is 43.5 cm tall and 23.5 cm in diameter – a size for a covered entrance, a porch, a balcony ceiling or the beam of a gazebo. The overall drop adjusts from 51 to 151 cm; 146 cm of chain is supplied and is shortened to suit the ceiling height, so that the finial does not hang at head height for people walking underneath.
The fitting weighs 2.66 kg, so it needs a firm fixing point in the ceiling or beam. Protection class I means it must be connected with a protective earth conductor – an outdoor installation is a job for an electrician.
Where it can hang
The IP44 rating protects the lantern against water splashing from any direction, and the manufacturer lists it for exterior use. It suits a terrace, a balcony or a gazebo, as well as the outdoor seating of hotels and restaurants – anywhere with a ceiling or beam to screw the canopy to.
Which bulb to choose
Inside is a single E27 lampholder for a bulb of up to 60 W. No bulb is included. The glass is clear, so the bulb stays on show – the manufacturer suggests a separately sold Edison-style LED lamp with a clear glass envelope. The fitting works with dimmable lamps, so with a dimmer you only need to choose a bulb marked as dimmable.
Construction
The cast aluminium carries a matt black coating with a tangible texture, clearly visible in the close-up of the fluted roof and the ring the chain hangs from. The bubbles in the glass soften the view of the bulb slightly. The Chicago series also includes wall, pedestal and pillar lanterns and a lamp post, and the same chain lantern is available in a Rusty Bronze Patina finish.
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