All Charged Up

The cordless lamp category has reached the high end – if last week’s High Point Market is any indication – with luxe materials such as alabaster, marble, glass, and brass.

Originally developed as a temporary solution during the occasional power outage or camping trip, rechargeable lighting has evolved from a utility light function to an ambiance-setting accent for upscale restaurant tables and hotel reception desks over the past 10 years.

Manufacturers exhibiting at the recent spring High Point Market have elevated the category further by introducing full-sized decorative lamps and wet-listed lanterns for both indoor and outdoor use.

Improvements in technology

There are several methods of charging battery-powered lamps, depending on the manufacturer. Some of the lamps shown at High Point are charged via a designated charger station base; some are equipped with a USB/USB-C port; and others rely on rechargeable bulbs. Regardless of how they are charged, battery life has greatly improved in the years since the category debuted. Most models provide up to six or eight hours of light per charge depending on whether different light levels are offered. Buster + Punch, for example, reports that its Takeout portable lantern can run for approximately 14 hours at full power.  

Unlike their utility-based counterparts – whose primarily purpose is maximum brightness and tend to be in the 5000K color temperature range – these decorative rechargeable lamps are offered in warmer color temperatures (typically 2700K) that blend in with residential light levels.

At the recent High Point Market, there were noticeably more rechargeable lamps that are  IP65 wet-rated for outdoor use, particularly in large lantern styles. Manufacturers said the popularity of outdoor living spaces – from larger patios and decks to outdoor kitchens and generously sized pool and bar areas for entertaining – has led to the growing demand for wet-rated products.  

Upgrades in style

When decorative battery-powered lamps first came on the scene, the primary style was a simple candlestick with contemporary flair. While that look remains popular, last week’s High Point Market is proof that manufacturers are branching out to target consumers who favor more traditional designs. Lamps with reeded columns, ornate capitals, pleated fabric shades, and classic materials such as marble and alabaster, glazed ceramic, polished brass, crystal, and glass debuted along with larger proportions in either height or width.

The latest cordless lamps look less like they are intended for temporary use and more like longer-term lighting solutions for settings without the convenience of electrical outlets (i.e. apartments, restaurant tables, bookshelves, outdoor areas). Not needing to be dependent on the availability of an outlet also permits greater design flexibility when illuminating a room.   

Where the original fleet of cordless lamps on the market hit a mid-level price point – Target,  Walmart and Kohls all currently offer decorative rechargeable lamps that retail for under $25 – the premium materials used in these new upscale versions command an elevated price tag. For example, Visual Comfort’s Ralph Lauren Thatcher traditional-style rechargeable lamp ranges in retail price from $629 to $1299; Currey & Company’s traditional brass rechargeable retails for approximately $740; and Arteriors’ Chanell cordless lamp featuring Calacatta Viola marble sells for around $1,440. For this reason, lighting showrooms offering higher-end cordless lamps should position the category as an attractive solution for hard-to-light areas.  

Here is a look at some of the battery-powered lighting that debuted at last week’s High Point Market.