Handmade Rattan Reading Table Lamp

28 cm wide against 24.5 cm tall, so slightly broader than it is high, which is an unusual proportion for a table lamp and the reason this one actually works as a reading light. A wide low shade sits below eye level when you are sitting down and throws light forward and outward onto a book rather than upward past it, which is what most bedside lamps do wrong.

The recommendation to use a low-wattage LED or an Edison bulb is worth following, and for two different reasons. A low-wattage LED keeps the rattan cool, which matters with any natural fibre sitting close to a source. An Edison bulb gives the warm, slightly uneven light that suits a hand-woven shade, at the cost of running considerably hotter.

The weave is worked by hand, so the density varies slightly across the shade and no two lamps are identical. Bulbs are not included, because they travel badly with a woven shade. Indoor use only, since rattan absorbs moisture and loses its shape in a damp room. Dust it with a dry soft brush rather than a cloth, which catches on the weave and pulls at it.

• Material: hand-woven rattan
• Dimensions: 28 cm wide x 24.5 cm high
• Proportion: wider than tall, throws light forward for reading
• Bulb: not included, low-wattage LED or Edison recommended
• Voltage: 110V-240V
• Style: country, rustic, retro, natural
• Use: indoor only
• Care: dry soft brush rather than a cloth