Lutyens Billiard Table Lighting

The Billiard Light

Lutyens probably first designed this billiard table light for Marshcourt in 1901. He used it again in Delhi and at least two other houses, Heathcote Manor and Gledstone Hall, the latter competed in the early 20s. On the original drawings, no material was specified but we are sure they were all made from timber. For this reason – it not being strong enough to deal with the structural forces in play – none survive. We have in fact seen the remains of the Gledstone light in bits in a box, very sad!

We now make two versions of the light. The larger is sized for a full-scale billiard table, the smaller has been adapted for a table closer to an American pool table.

There are three issues with the billiard light: weight, rigidity and concealing the wiring.In remaking the light, we produced hand carved hardwood patterns for the bronze sand castings. These castings are hand fettled and machined down to the minimum thickness to keep the weight down. The chandelier is a sandwich construction with the bronze elements clad over a rigid steel armature, fixed with dowels and bronze welded joints. The final piece to be applied is the capping to the arches – this is fitted last leaving a channel for concealing the wires.  An antique silver finish is also available

Lutyens’s original design called for the billiard light to be suspended from a single pole. At 75kg for the larger light, this is an engineering consideration for the ceiling above, not to mention the structure of the light and we have adapted it for two suspension points which we feel does not interfere with the aesthetics of the piece whilst giving the light considerably better rigidity and stability and spreading the load over the ceiling.

Shades in parchment or customer’s own fabric are included in the fitting but we also offer shades in glass and stove enamel as optional extras.

Billiard light tear sheet