Ceramic wall sconces put a handmade surface at eye level, close enough to read. Matte clay catches light unevenly and gives the body a depth that painted metal never has. Small irregularities from the firing belong to the material. Listed here are the fittings built on a fired clay body.
How to choose ceramic wall sconces
Decide first which way the light should go. Most clay bodies are opaque, so output leaves through an open top, an open bottom, or both. An uplight grazes the wall and lifts a low ceiling. A downlight lands on a nightstand or a stair tread. A fitting open at both ends does some of each.
Then match the glaze to the room. Clay sits naturally with linen, oak and unpainted plaster, which is why it turns up in bedrooms, reading corners and hallways far more often than in kitchens. A sand or cream glaze disappears into a pale wall, while a deep glaze reads as an object against one.
Mounting height and projection for ceramic wall sconces
These are the figures an electrician roughs in to, assuming a standard eight foot ceiling.
-
Beside a bed: 36 to 40 inches above the mattress, or about 60 inches from the floor.
-
General wall: 60 to 66 inches from the floor to the center of the box.
-
Hallway spacing: 8 to 10 feet between fittings.
-
Projection: keep the body under 5 inches deep beside a stair or a narrow passage.
Projection matters more with clay than with metal, since a thrown or cast body is thicker than a folded shade. Measure how far it stands off the wall before choosing a spot beside a door swing.
How is a glazed body cleaned?
A dry cloth handles a matte glaze. Water darkens an unglazed foot or rim while it dries and can leave a ring, so keep moisture off any raw clay. Gloss glaze takes a damp cloth without trouble. Nothing here needs polish, which is one advantage over metal.
Can one of these go in a bathroom?
Only where the product page states the fitting is meant for that location. Clay itself handles humidity without complaint, but the socket and the wiring decide the question. Read the location field listed for each fitting, and keep any wall light clear of direct spray from a shower.
Compare with Brass Wall Sconces, Alabaster Wall Sconces, Wood Wall Sconces and Ceramic Pendant Lights. Everything in this category sits under Wall Lamps.
