Blasé wall sconces have long struggled with permanence and recognition in the field of interior design. Although their purpose is clear, the often frosted, yellowing aesthetic is old-fashioned – like a mauve hotel banquet hall. This week, we wanted to encourage the special ops mission of this extraordinary league of timid lamps we like to call “sconces” by highlighting the best vintage-inspired, modern, and innovative for our Top Ten list of Whimsical Wall Sconces.

Gently Illuminate With a Modern Sconce or Wall Lamp to Bring the Natural Glow of Your Interior Design Out of its Shell.

1. Clio
MANUFACTURER: Currey & Co.
PRICE: $484
Dimensions: 31″H x 13″W x 7″D

A little French black iron influence for a touch of traditional lighting, the Clio’s gorgeous gold leaf floral-inspired finish can be hardwired or plugged right into your wall.  Containing two separate lights and double layered candle cups for safe keeping, the vine design wall sconce blooms to perfection within an eclectic or elegant setting.

2. Rise Fall
MANUFACTURER: Hudson Valley Lighting
PRICE: $311
Dimensions: 10″H x 5.25″Dia. (34″ overall H)

Hanging low on its cloth cord, the solid brass fixture and bulb of the Rise Fall by the Hudson Valley Lighting company comes in a wide variety of finishes and fitter glass shade options. Almost like a modern lantern, the adjustable height of the glass shade uses a counterweight to keep the perfect glow on cue.

3. Gilda
DESIGNER: Arturo Alvarez
MANUFACTURER: Ylighting
PRICE: $1,995
Dimensions: 12.75″W X 21.75″H X 4″ Ext.

Suspended glass tiles suspended from cables form the shade of the Gilda wall sconce. Each wall lamp is handmade in Spain and signed by designer Arturo Alvarez for authenticity making it so that no two pieces are exactly the same. All with stainless steel fittings for compact fluorescents and using 24k gold leaf tiles, you can choose between white glass or black to outfit your tiny wall chandelier.

4. Porcelight Wall
DESIGNER: Eric Magnussen
MANUFACTURER: Ameico, Santa & Cole
PRICE: Available upon request
Dimensions: 4.33″ x 8.8″H

Porcelain accents the powder-lacquered steel plate and 2 m cord that make up the Porcelight Wall Lamp by Eric Magnussen. In either a Black or a White flange and cord, the dimmable 40W 240V Halogen light invigorates a classic or retro style using its tiny, illuminated shade, cord, and fixture set-up.

5. Octate Bow
DESIGNER: Tim Sharpe
MANUFACTURER: Octate
PRICE: $229- 329
Dimensions: 24″H x 12″W x 5″D or 48″H x 12″W x 5″D

One of my favorites of the list for its use of bentwood walnut, this wall-mounted sconce not only diffuses the mild glow, it warms up a space with its wood material in a lovely sleek form. Coming with a 15-ft cord, the Octate Bow Sconce is shipped flat and great for curving out straight-angled walls of all colors.

6. Drop 3 Liquid, Small
DESIGNER: Hopf & Wortmann
MANUFACTURER: Next
PRICE: $349
Dimensions: 18.5″ H x 7.87″ Ext.

“Liquid Light presents light in a fluid form,” says the product description of the polythylene Drop 3 Wall Lamp by Hopf & Wortmann for Next. It comes in a small or large size (small is listed here) – using a 100W incandescent bulb – and almost looks like a heavy drop of mercurial rain that froze while running down the wall.

7. 2 Square Strip
DESIGNER: Ron Rezek
MANUFACTURER: Artemide
PRICE: $300
Dimensions: 38″, 50″ or 62″ L

Energy Efficient in its white or aluminum finish, the 2 Square Strip Sconce wall mounts itself vertically. The linear fluorescent lighting does particularly well in bathroom applications due to its ample lighting and frosted acrylic diffuser that are each made to order from Artemide by designer Ron Rezek.

8. Button
DESIGNER: Piero Lissoni
MANUFACTURER: Flos
PRICE: $475
Dimensions: 16″ Dia.

The Button – a flat and round, opal polycarbonate diffused sconce – uses cast aluminum and two circline fluorescent lamps to illuminate an entire wall area. Super soft illumination snapped right up to the wall, designer Piero Lissoni had some fun making colorful blue or yellow finishes along with the traditional white that can be used indoors or out.

9. Cord Lamp
DESIGNER: Brendan Ravenhill
PRICE: $170
Dimensions: 24″W x 6.5″H with 10′ cloth cord

“An evolutionary descendant of Jean Prouve’s Swing Jib Lamp, the simple structure of the Cord Lamp allows it to fold flat and pack into a standard poster tube,” says designer Brendan Ravenhill of his pivoting Cord Lamp. Thanks to the recommendation by Dwell Editor, Aaron Britt, this modern wall lamp requires no wiring, making it a versatile piece that is easily added into any interior project.

10. Carpet
DESIGNER: Serray & de la Rocha
MANUFACTURER: Estiluz
PRICE: Available upon request
Dimensions: 14.5″W x 10.5″H x 3.87″D

Quietly floating against your wall like a stingray, the Carpet wall-lamp by Serray & de la Rocha for Estiluz is made using a thermo-formed glass with a slight wave that envelops and releases the light. Carpet’s design is created using a deformed, thermo-formed glass in either a wall lamp or a bedroom wall-light (that includes a reading arm).

Hope you enjoyed our roundup of the Top Ten of Whimsical Wall Sconces!

Top Ten articles publish every Tuesday. Email 3rings@designerpages.com if there’s a category you’d like to see.