Luce Sferica S1 Suspension Lamp

Luce Sferica S1: clear glass spheres threaded onto a single chrome bar. The bar runs straight through the centre of every bead and out the far end, so the whole fixture reads as one horizontal line with light gathered along it. Hung on two fine cables, it floats level above a long table like a drawn rule.

The glass is fully transparent, so this is a long fixture that takes up almost no visual space. You see the bar, the round edges of the spheres, and whatever is behind them — which is why it works over a dining table at lengths where a solid linear fixture would wall the room in half.

Four configurations

Two variables: how long the bar is, and how many beads sit on it. At 165 cm you can choose either — and the difference is significant.

• 65" / 165 cm — 6 beads. The spheres sit spaced apart along the bar, with the chrome visible between them. Lighter, airier, more graphic. 
• 65" / 165 cm — 8 beads. Same length, more glass. The spheres sit shoulder to shoulder in a continuous run with no gaps. Fuller and more substantial. 
• 81.5" / 207 cm — 10 beads. A packed run for a longer table. 
• 98" / 249 cm — 12 beads. Just over eight feet of fixture — for a long dining table, a bar, or a conference setting. 

Specifications

Matching the fixture to your table

A linear pendant should run roughly two thirds the length of the table beneath it, leaving clear space at both ends. The 65" suits tables of about 84 to 96 inches; the 81.5" suits tables of about 108 to 120 inches; the 98" suits tables of 132 inches and longer, or a long kitchen island or bar. Hang the bottom of the beads 30 to 34 inches above the tabletop. Because the fixture is suspended on two cables, it needs two ceiling fixing points spaced along its length — confirm your ceiling structure before ordering the longer versions.

Choosing 6 beads or 8 at the same length

Both are 165 cm long. The 6-bead version leaves the chrome bar visible between spheres, which reads as lighter and more rhythmic — better in a room that is already busy, or where you want the fixture to recede. The 8-bead version is a continuous line of glass with no chrome showing between beads, which is fuller and more present, and holds its own in a larger or higher-ceilinged room. The 8-bead is also the brighter of the two, with more lit glass along the same span.

Frequently asked questions

What lengths and prices does the Luce Sferica S1 come in?

Four configurations. 165 cm / 65" with 6 beads is $948; 165 cm / 65" with 8 beads is $1,480; 207 cm / 81.5" with 10 beads is $1,800; and 249 cm / 98" with 12 beads is $2,250.

Why are there two versions at 165 cm?

They are the same length but hold a different number of beads. The 6-bead version spaces the spheres apart with visible chrome between them; the 8-bead version packs them shoulder to shoulder in a continuous run of glass. It is a choice of density, not of size.

How big are the glass beads?

Each sphere is 20 cm / 7.9 inches in diameter, which is also the overall height of the fixture.

What is it made of?

Aluminium and glass — a chrome-finished aluminium bar running through clear glass spheres, suspended on fine cables.

How long a table does each size suit?

As a rule, a linear pendant should be about two thirds the length of the table. The 65" suits tables around 84 to 96 inches, the 81.5" suits 108 to 120 inches, and the 98" suits 132 inches or longer. Hang the beads 30 to 34 inches above the tabletop.

Does the clear glass block the view across the table?

No, and this is the main reason to choose it at these lengths. The spheres are fully transparent, so even a six or eight foot fixture does not visually divide the room the way a solid linear shade would.

How is it mounted?

It hangs from the ceiling on two fine cables spaced along its length, so it needs two fixing points rather than one. On the longer configurations, have an electrician confirm the ceiling structure can carry the fixture at both points before ordering.

Can it be used in a bathroom or outdoors?

No. It is an indoor fixture.