Schwung Babylon Libris Medium Wall Sconce Light

A Slim Bedside Sconce With Ambient Glow and a Reading Beam

The Schwung Babylon Libris Medium Wall Sconce brings a bare opal globe and a small directional reading light together on one thin brass rod. The globe sits at the top between two shallow brass discs and lights the room gently. The reading light hangs below, on a pivot, and gives a focused beam for a book or a bedside table. At 578mm tall it is sized for the wall beside a bed or a reading chair, where the Large version of the same design might feel too imposing.

Choose Your Finish

Four hand applied Schwung finishes are available on the Babylon Libris Medium:

• Classic Bronze, a dark bronze with soft mottling, as photographed
• Vintage Brass, a warm, unevenly aged brass
• Mahogany, a deep red brown
• Tarnished Silver, a soft, smoky silver tone

Because the finishes are applied by hand, every piece is slightly different, and the tone on a screen will never quite match the metal in the room.

How It Works

Two Lamps, Two Jobs

A 4W E14 LED G45 globe bulb provides the ambient light at the top, shielded from the side by the double disc shade so you see a glowing sphere rather than glare. A 3W G9 LED in the 20mm reading cylinder gives the task light below; the cylinder tilts through up to 90 degrees and turns through up to 135 degrees. Both bulbs are supplied and both are replaceable. Combined output is around 440 lumens at a warm 2200K to 3000K.

Fixing and Dimming

The sconce fixes through a 125mm round backplate, 15mm deep, with a brass ball at its centre where the rod passes through. It projects around 189mm from the wall. Dimming is possible with electronic dimmers only, ELV or trailing edge; leading edge dimmers are not suitable.

We recommend that this fitting is installed by a qualified electrician.

Where It Works Best

This is first and foremost a bedside light. A pair, one each side of the headboard, replaces table lamps and frees up the bedside surface, with the reading beams aimed inwards. It also works beside a sofa or armchair in a snug, or on a landing wall where a soft glow is wanted overnight. Schwung photographs it against oak panelling, limed timber and pale plaster, and the dark finishes hold their own against all three.

Made By Schwung

Schwung, founded by former antiques dealer Rudi Nijssen and former goldsmith Dominique Sente, designs its lighting in house and makes it in solid brass in its own workshop in Poland. The Babylon collection reduces each light to rods, discs and spheres, which means the precision of the joints and the evenness of the hand applied patina are what you notice.

Good To Know

• Dimensions: 578mm high overall, around 189mm projection from the wall, 125mm diameter backplate 15mm deep
• Weight: 1.4kg
• Material: solid brass
• Light source: 1 x 4W E14 LED G45 globe bulb and 1 x 3W G9 LED bulb, both included and replaceable
• Light output: approximately 440 lumens combined, 2200K to 3000K warm white
• Reading light tilts up to 90 degrees and rotates up to 135 degrees
• Dimmable with electronic dimmers only (ELV, trailing edge)
• IP rating: IP20, for indoor use only, not suitable for bathroom electrical zones
• Certification: CE
• Warranty: 2 years
• Finishes are hand applied and vary in tone from piece to piece; screens also render colour differently, so please call us if you are unsure before ordering
• Made to order, with a manufacturer lead time of approximately 5 weeks
• Made to order and not returnable unless faulty or damaged
• We recommend all lighting is installed by a qualified electrician

Questions People Ask

How high should the Babylon Libris Medium be mounted beside a bed?
The fitting is 578mm tall with the backplate roughly in the middle, so with the backplate at around shoulder height for someone sitting up in bed, the reading light falls at book height and the globe sits above eye level.

Does the reading light move?
Yes. The small cylinder at the bottom tilts through up to 90 degrees and rotates through up to 135 degrees.

Which bulbs does it take?
One E14 G45 globe bulb at the top, supplied as a 4W LED, and one G9 bulb in the reading light, supplied as a 3W LED. Both are standard fittings and can be replaced.

Is it dimmable?
Yes, but only with an electronic ELV or trailing edge dimmer. Schwung advises against other dimmer types.

Is there a taller version?
Yes. The Babylon Libris Large is the same design at 858mm high, for rooms with more wall height.

Do I need an electrician?
Yes. We recommend that this mains voltage fitting is installed by a qualified electrician.

Overall: 57.8cm H x 18.9cm projection
Backplate: 12.5cm Dia. x 1.5cm H
Reading light tilts up to 90 degrees and rotates up to 135 degrees

We offer free standard delivery on orders within the UK Mainland* (an additional fee applies for the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Man, the Scottish Isles, parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Isles and International).

*Collingwood orders under £150 incur a delivery fee of £9.95 inc. VAT.
*Any order under £49 incurs a delivery fee of £9.95.