Gradino — a stepped façade in frosted glass. Six slabs of glass rise in tiers from the wall, the outer pairs short, the centre pair tall, each one standing slightly proud of its neighbour and fixed on small brass studs. The profile is pure 1920s: the setback silhouette of a Deco skyscraper, reduced to a fixture you can hold in two hands.
The glass is seeded — full of fine trapped bubbles that scatter through the body of each slab. Unlit it reads as pale frost, almost stone. Lit, those bubbles catch the light individually and the whole surface fills with a soft granular glow, warmer and far less flat than a plain opal shade.
Up and down, and the wall between
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Open top and bottom. Light escapes above and below the glass as well as through it, so the fixture throws two soft fans onto the wall and glows in the middle. Three effects from one lamp.
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Seeded glass. The bubbles are in the material, not a surface finish. They are what give the lit face its grain.
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Stepped relief. Because each slab sits at a different depth, the tiers shade one another and the fixture reads as a relief sculpture rather than a flat panel.
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Exposed brass studs. The fixings are the ornament — small brass domes marking every junction, the only warm note against cool glass.
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Slim. Just 3.9 inches of projection, so it suits a corridor or a bedside without anything to catch.
Specifications
| Size |
L 7.9" x W 3.9" x H 15.7" (20 x 10 x 40 cm) |
| Projection from wall |
3.9" (10 cm) |
| Material |
Glass · metal |
| Glass |
Frosted, seeded |
| Fixings |
Brass studs |
| Light source |
LED bulb or Edison bulb — not included |
| Bulb base |
E14 small screw base |
| Voltage |
AC 110-240 V |
| IP rating |
IP20 — indoor dry locations only |
| Mounting |
Wall · hardwired · indoor use only |
| Control |
Wired to an external wall switch (switch not included) |
| Certifications |
North America · Europe · Saudi Arabia |
Where to mount it
A pair flanking a bed, where the up-and-down wash gives light to read by without glare at eye level. A run of two or three along a corridor, spaced 5 to 7 feet apart, so the fans of light overlap slightly. Either side of a mirror or a fireplace, where the symmetry of the stepped form does most of the work. Mount the centre of the glass around 55 to 60 inches from the floor for general wall lighting, or 48 to 52 inches beside a bed.
Give it plain wall above and below. The two fans of light are half the effect, and they are lost if the fixture sits tight under a ceiling or behind furniture.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gradino and what does it cost?
15.7 inches tall, 7.9 inches wide, and it projects 3.9 inches from the wall (20 x 10 x 40 cm). $490 USD.
Which way does the light go?
Three ways at once. The fixture is open at the top and bottom, so it throws a fan of light up the wall and another down it, while the glass itself glows in between. It gives excellent ambient and reading light, but it is not a task light for a work surface.
What is seeded glass?
Glass with fine air bubbles deliberately trapped inside it. The bubbles scatter light individually, so the lit surface has a soft granular texture rather than the flat even glow of plain opal glass. The bubbles are in the material and are part of the making, not a flaw.
What bulb does it take?
One E14 small screw-base bulb, not included. E14 is smaller than the E26 and E27 bases common in North America; in the United States, E12 candelabra bulbs are the closest widely stocked equivalent, and we can confirm fit for your installation. Choose 2700K warm white — the seeded glass turns golden under warm light and grey under cool.
Is it hardwired?
Yes. It wires directly to a wall box and is operated from a separate wall switch. There is no plug, no cord, and no switch on the fixture, so installation should be carried out by an electrician.
Is it dimmable?
It runs on a common wall switch and has no built-in dimming, so it depends on the bulb. A dimmable LED or filament bulb on a compatible wall dimmer will dim.
What does IP20 mean?
IP20 means the fixture is protected against contact with objects larger than 12 mm but has no water protection. It is an indoor dry-location rating — suitable for bedrooms, hallways, and living rooms, but not for a bathroom with shower exposure or any outdoor location.
How far does it stick out from the wall?
3.9 inches / 10 cm. That is slim enough for a narrow corridor or a tight bedside without protruding into the space.
How do I clean it?
Wipe the glass with a soft cloth and a little glass cleaner, and use a dry cloth on the brass studs. Avoid metal polish, which will cut through the applied finish.
Will it work outside the United States?
Yes. It accepts AC 110-240 V and carries certification compatible with North America, Europe, and Saudi Arabia, so it runs on either a 120 V or a 220-240 V supply.