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Brass and cut crystal

NinonCrystal Basket Brass Pendant Light

The Ninon Crystal Basket Brass Pendant Light gathers cut crystal drops inside a cast brass cradle of upswept leaves, closing to a single crystal finial at the point.

Three bulbs sit behind the crystal rather than below it, so the light leaves outward through the drops and the basket reads as lit from within. At just over a foot across it suits a stairwell, an entry, or a small dining table where a full chandelier would crowd the room.

  • Ø 13.4" / 34 cmNarrow enough for a stairwell or an entry
  • H 25.6" / 65 cmBody only, plus a 35 cm chain
  • Brass and clear crystalGold brass frame, clear cut drops
  • E12/E14 x 3Bulbs not included
Ninon Crystal Basket Brass Pendant Light lit, with cut crystal drops inside a brass cradle of leaves
Canopy Ø 14 cm / 5.5"Chain 35 cm / 13.8"Brass straps 28 cmBasket 36 cmH 25.6" / 65 cmØ 13.4" / 34 cm

Measurements

Every dimension, drawn out

The drawing is to scale. The 65 cm height covers the fixture itself, from the top of the brass straps to the bottom of the crystal finial; the chain hangs above that and can be shortened on site.

MaterialBrass and crystal
ColorGold brass, clear crystal
WidthØ 34 cm / 13.4"
Height65 cm / 25.6", body only
Chain35 cm / 13.8", shortenable on site
CanopyØ 14 cm / 5.5"
SocketE12/E14 x 3
InstallationHardwired to a ceiling box
Dia 34 cm x H 65 cm / Ø 13.4" x H 25.6"E14 x 3

How it lights

Lit from inside the basket

The three sockets sit up inside the brass cradle, behind the crystal rather than under it. Light travels outward through the rows of drops instead of falling straight down, so you see a body of light rather than three bulbs.

Each drop is cut on every face, so the same light comes back as dozens of small highlights. Clear candelabra bulbs give the sharpest sparkle; frosted ones soften it if the fixture hangs near eye level on a stair.

Bulbs sit behind the crystalnot below it, so nothing glares downwardLight leaves through the dropseach cut throws its own highlightThe basket reads as litthe whole shape glows, not just the bulbs
Close view of the cut crystal drops hung in rows inside the basket
Cut crystal dropsHung in rows that narrow toward the point of the basket.
Cast brass leaf detail curling up at the rim of the basket
Cast brass leavesUpswept leaves form the cradle and curl outward at the rim.
Single crystal finial closing the basket at the point
Crystal finialA single faceted drop closes the basket at the bottom.

Where it fits best

  • Stairwells and landingsAt 34 cm across it drops into a stair without filling the well, and the crystal catches light from the window above.
  • Entries and hallwaysSmall enough for an eight-foot ceiling, with the sparkle doing the work a larger fixture would need width for.
  • Above a side table or a bedsideHangs where a table lamp would sit, and frees the surface underneath.
Ninon pendant hung in a stairwell
In a stairwell
Ninon pendant lighting an entry hallway
In an entry
Ninon pendant above a dining table
Over a side table
Chain as supplied: 35 cmKeep 7 ft clearChain shortened on siteKeep 7 ft clear8 ft ceiling shown

Setting the drop

Chain in, chain out

The fixture ships with a 35 cm / 13.8" chain. Links come off on site, so the drop can be set anywhere between the fixture hanging tight to the canopy and the full chain paid out.

  1. Measure firstMeasure from the ceiling to the floor, or to the table top where the pendant will hang.
  2. Keep the walkway clearIn an entry, a hallway or over a stair tread, leave at least 7 ft from the floor to the crystal finial.
  3. Set the chainRemove links until the fixture sits where you want it, then fix the canopy over the junction box.

On and off

Clear by day, alight at night

Switched off, the Ninon reads as clear crystal and gold brass, a small sculpted object that still carries a corner in daylight.

Switched on, the three bulbs light the drops from inside the cradle. The crystal picks the light up row by row and the basket turns into a body of warm light rather than three separate bulbs.

  • Three E12/E14 bulbsSet behind the crystal, not under it
  • Warm white suits itThe color of the light comes from your bulbs
  • Clear or frostedClear bulbs sparkle, frosted bulbs soften

Use the switch on the photo to compare the two.

The same pendant switched off, showing clear crystal and brass
The Ninon switched on, with the bulbs glowing behind the crystal drops

Look closely

Crystal is not all the same

Two close-ups at the same distance. The difference shows up long before the light is switched on, and it decides how the fixture looks for the next ten years.

Close view of our clear cut crystal drops and crisp brass leaf casting
OursClear, colorless crystal with sharp facets and even polish, on crisply cast brass leaves.
Close view of cloudy, yellow-tinted drops and soft casting found on cheaper fixtures
Cheaper fixturesCloudy, yellow-tinted drops with soft edges and bubbles, on flatter castings that lose the leaf detail.
  • ClarityColorless crystal stays bright under warm bulbs. Tinted or cloudy stones turn the light dull and muddy.
  • FacetsSharp, evenly cut faces throw distinct highlights. Rounded, softly pressed faces scatter the light into a haze.
  • CastingDeep leaf detail holds a shadow line. Shallow castings read flat from a few feet away.
Ninon pendants hung in a row above a kitchen island

Better in threes

Three of them, one line of light

One Ninon is a small point of light. Hung in a row of three, the same basket turns into a run that carries a whole island or a long table, and the crystal on each one picks up the light from its neighbours.

  • Covers the counterThree spaced 24 to 30 in apart light a 7 to 9 ft island evenly, with no dark stretch between them.
  • Holds the spaceA single 34 cm basket can look lost over a wide counter. Three fill it without moving up to a larger fixture.
  • Same drop, same lookCut every chain to the same length so the crystal finials line up at eye level.

Caring for the Ninon

Before you clean

Switch the power off at the breaker and let the bulbs cool. Crystal drops are hung on small wire clips, so handle them one at a time rather than wiping across a row.

Crystal drops

Dust with a soft dry cloth, or a soft brush to reach between the rows. For marks, wipe with a barely damp cloth and dry at once so nothing dries into the cuts.

Brass frame

Wipe with a soft dry cloth only. Abrasive pads and ammonia or acid cleaners will dull the gold finish, and liquid cleaners can run down onto the crystal.

Questions

What buyers ask most about the Ninon, answered in full.

Are bulbs included, and which bulbs should I use?

Bulbs are not included. The Ninon takes three E12/E14 candelabra-base bulbs. Because the bulbs sit behind the crystal, the choice changes the character of the light: clear filament candle bulbs give sharp points of light and the strongest sparkle through the cut drops, while frosted or opal bulbs give a softer, more even glow, which is worth considering if the fixture will hang near eye level on a stair. Color temperature comes from the bulb as well, and a warm white reads closest to the way the fixture is photographed.

How wide and how tall is it, exactly?

The basket measures Ø 34 cm / 13.4" across at the rim, and the fixture itself is 65 cm / 25.6" tall, measured from the top of the brass straps down to the bottom of the crystal finial. That 65 cm does not include the chain. The chain adds up to 35 cm / 13.8" more, and the canopy that covers the ceiling box is Ø 14 cm / 5.5".

Can I change the hanging height?

Yes. The fixture comes with a 35 cm / 13.8" chain, and links can be taken off on site, so the drop can be set anywhere from the fixture sitting close under the canopy down to the full chain length. As a guide, leave at least 7 ft from the floor to the bottom of the crystal finial anywhere people walk underneath, and hang it lower only where nothing passes below, such as over a side table or in a stairwell seen from the floor above.

What is the fixture made of?

The frame is brass in a gold finish, cast into the upswept leaves that form the cradle and into the three slim straps that carry it. The drops and the finial are clear cut crystal. There is no shade and no glass diffuser, so what you see is the crystal itself catching the light.

Will it be bright enough as the only light in a room?

It is a decorative pendant rather than a general room light. Three candelabra bulbs behind cut crystal give a warm, sparkling pool of light that suits an entry, a stairwell, a landing or a spot above a side table. In a room you use for tasks, treat it as the fixture that sets the mood and add lamps or downlights for working light.

Is it dimmable?

The fixture has standard E12/E14 sockets and no driver of its own, so dimming comes down to the bulbs and the switch: fit dimmable bulbs and pair them with a dimmer rated for that bulb type. Dimming suits this design, because lowering the output keeps the crystal catching the light while taking the edge off the bulbs themselves.

How is it installed, and can one person do it?

It is hardwired to a ceiling junction box rather than plugged in, so a licensed electrician should install it. The box must be rated to carry the weight of the fixture. Two people make the job easier: one to hold the basket while the other sets the chain length and wires the canopy. Turn the power off at the breaker before any work starts.

Do the crystal drops arrive fitted, or do I hang them myself?

Some drops may be packed separately so they do not knock against each other in transit. If any need fitting, they hook onto the frame in rows, working from the widest row at the rim down to the narrowest at the point. Keep the rows even and check that every clip is closed before the fixture goes up.

Four hands-on stages

From a bar of raw brass to the frame of your lamp, each stage is done by a person at a machine or a bench.

A solid brass block being cut to size on a workshop saw
A brass rod being turned on a metal lathe with curls of brass swarf
A craftsman cutting brass sheet into shapes at the bench
A metalworker welding a brass lamp frame at the bench

Brass

Mostly copper, strengthened with zinc. That simple mix gives brass its warm golden color, its weight and its strength, and it is the metal we build our lamp bodies from.

Solid metal
Brass through and through
Worked by hand
Cut, turned and joined
Made to last
Strong, stable, rust-free
A craftsman hammering a heated brass strip on an anvil in the workshop

Look closer at the metal

Brass rewards a close look. Tap a point to see what solid metal does that coated metal cannot.

Close-up of a brass ceiling fixture showing its sockets, arms and brushed brass pan
A tiered brass chandelier with fluted feather leaves fixed by brass rivets

You feel it the moment you lift it

Brass is one of the densest metals used in lighting. That weight is why a brass lamp hangs steady and feels solid in your hands.

Brass
8.5
Iron
7.9
Zinc alloy
6.7
Aluminum
2.7

Typical density in g/cm³, for reference.

Solid brass vs. brass-colored

Both can look golden on day one. Drag to see what sits under the surface.

Gold-colored plated tubes with the coating peeling away to reveal rusted metalPlated metal
Stacked solid brass plates with clean, bright edgesSolid brass
vs
Gold all the way through

Scratch solid brass and you find more brass. Scratch plating and grey metal shows.

No rust underneath

Brass does not rust. Plated iron rusts once the coating wears thin.

Detail that stays sharp

Machined brass keeps crisp lines; cast alloys tend to look soft.

The Samu Difference

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