Mercury Ball

Lutyens was very keen on the visual games that could be played by incorporating a silvered ball into his lighting designs and used it in many different frameworks throughout his career.

The Delhi Mercury Ball was designed for the library in Viceroy’s House, New Delhi in 1919 and he was so pleased with it that he subsequently had one made for his own home and for other members of his family. It was significantly ahead of its time, using “shaving” light bulbs whose reflections wrap around the ball, which in turn concavely reflects all aspects of its hanging space creating a unique visual feature. The surrounding metalwork cage is available in a variety of colours or metal finish.

In several of his country houses, Lutyens used a more traditional version of the mercury ball, cradling it in an armed chandelier. We have found examples of this fitting with both six and eight arms and, though usually found in metal – often silver plate – we have also seen it in painted timber. We are happy to explore all permutations and finishes.

Lutyens’s use of tassels and braided rope is also very evident in all these designs and we are able to custom make both in a variety of colours to fit style requirements and ceiling heights.