s.luce Velo 5-light pendant, brown glass, white suspension, Ø 60 cm canopy, E27

Velo is a pendant light with five shades of hand-blown brown glass, hung on white textile cables from a round white canopy 60 cm across. The glasses have vertical cuts and are open at the bottom, so they send the light mainly downwards. They come in three diameters, 18, 20 and 25 cm, and stand 20 to 33 cm tall, in cylindrical and oval forms.

How big it is and where to hang it

The canopy, from the s.luce Modular system, is 60 cm across and 4 cm deep, with five fixed cable outlets. Each cable is 500 cm long and can be shortened, so the shades can hang at different heights, stepped or more level. The manufacturer intends the light for open staircases, smaller double-height spaces, stairwells of medium ceiling height and dining areas with a central table.

Over a table the lower edge of the lowest shade should sit 70–80 cm above the top. In a stairwell, compare the cable length with the height from the ceiling to the flight of stairs.

Which bulbs to choose

The light has five E27 lampholders and takes bulbs of up to 40 W each; no bulbs are included. The manufacturer suggests decorative filament bulbs as well as dimmable LEDs. The bulb shows through the glass, so its shape becomes part of the look. The light can be dimmed if you use dimmable bulbs and a matching dimmer.

Brown glass gives the light a warm tint and absorbs part of it, so for lighting a whole room it pays to choose brighter bulbs than you would behind clear glass. The fitting is protection class I and must be connected to the earth conductor.

Build and variants

The shades are glass; the canopy and suspension parts are metal. The manufacturer describes the style as modern: plain forms without decoration, differing only in size and drop. The Velo range offers the same light with clear, smoked and multicoloured glass, each with a white or black suspension.