Marble Wall Sconces

Marble wall sconces put real stone on the wall, with veining that runs differently through every piece. Lit from behind, the thinner sections of a marble shade glow while the dense veins hold their color, so the fixture looks like two different objects lit and unlit. Weight and natural variation are the two things to plan for.

How to choose marble wall sconces

Decide first whether the stone is the shade or the frame. A backlit disc or slab is the point of the fixture and needs a plain wall behind it at eye level, where the veining can be read. A stone backplate under a metal shade is quieter and holds up better in a run of repeating fixtures down a hallway.

Then look at the stone against the room. White Carrara with gray veining stays cool and belongs with nickel and chrome. Cream and honey colored stone leans warm and pairs with brass and oak. Green and black marble carries enough pattern to work alone beside a mirror, where a matched pair on one wall starts to compete with itself.

Weight and mounting for marble wall sconces

Stone weighs more than glass or metal at the same size, and the whole load hangs off the wall rather than resting on a floor, so the fixing deserves more attention than usual.

Read the weight on the product page and the fixing type it calls for. In drywall, a stud or a heavy duty toggle holds the fixture where a plastic plug will not. In plaster over lath, drill slowly and let the anchor bear on something solid behind. Mount at 60 to 66 inches from the floor on a general wall, and flank a mirror at 60 to 64 inches on center.

Will the veining match the photograph?

It will be close in tone and different in pattern. Each piece is cut from a different block, so the lines, their density and the background color shift between fixtures. Two fixtures from the same range make a related pair rather than an identical one.

Does stone mark in a bathroom?

Marble is porous and takes marks from oils and cosmetics more readily than from steam. Keep the fixture clear of the splash zone beside a basin, wipe it with a dry cloth, and leave acidic cleaners alone, since they etch a polished surface permanently.

Continue with Brass Wall Sconces, Alabaster Wall Sconces, Wood Wall Sconces and Marble Table Lamps. This page is part of Wall Lamps.