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Known for their durability and distinctive glisten, our iconic porcelain barn lights are hand-crafted from solid steel and coated with multiple layers of this unique material. With various finish colors, accessories, and other customization options, our signature RLM shades become true one-of-a-kinds!

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BLE-S-SL-SBS
In the early 20th century, industrial lighting was crafted for the safety and comfort of the factory worker. Exposed filament bulb pendants were replaced by...
$359.00

BLE-CN-DBL
Representative of the latest trends, the Loma’s clean lines and sphere-shaped deep bowl shade abide by the latest contemporary trends and designs. Different...
$345.00

BLE-S-DBL
Featuring a unique character and imbued with durability, the Loma represents the peak of contemporary lighting fixtures. With a style centered on a round...
$305.00

BLE-C-DBL
With the latest trends in mind, our Loma Cord Hung Pendant assumes the clean lines and curves that epitomize contemporary designs. By emphasizing the...
$280.00

BLE-C-MI
With a look straight from early 20th-century factory and warehouse lighting, the Bridgeport offers a bold industrial aesthetic to any setting. The fixture's...
$270.00

BLE-CN-MI
To create a timeless style, a vintage-inspired shallow bowl shade tops a rugged guard, establishing a look in line with early 20th-century factory lights....
$335.00

BLE-S-MI
Channeling vintage lighting, the Bridgeport's classic style appeals to both traditional and modern décors. This fixture tops a cast guard and glass body...
$295.00

BLE-G-MI
Finding inspiration in the lighting used for early 20th century factories, the Bridgeport shows off an elevated industrial aesthetic. A classic shallow bowl...
$305.00

BLE-C-AI
We’ve recreated early 20th-century explosion-proof lighting with the Cleveland! Thanks to its industrial-inspired design, this pendant feels equally at...
$290.00

BLE-CN-AI
From its vintage-inspired aesthetic to its hands-on manufacturing process, The Cleveland represents the height of craftsmanship and style. Tracing its roots...
$355.00

BLE-S-AI
Drawing inspiration from vintage lighting designs, the Cleveland features a rugged stem mounting, cast guard and glass, and classic RLM shade. By...
$315.00

BLE-G-AI
The Cleveland Vintage Industrial Gooseneck Light brings an authentic 20th-century character to residential and commercial settings. Fitting a cast guard and...
$340.00

BLE-C-CI
While The Syracuse expresses a classic sense of style, it still feels at home in many modern settings. This timeless appeal is a result of the fixture's...
$290.00

BLE-CN-CI
Styled after historic factory lighting, our Syracuse Pendant features a flared shade, cast guard and glass, and chain mounting. Despite its vintage...
$355.00

BLE-S-CI
Staying true to its industrial roots, the Syracuse features an RLM-style shade, protective guard, and sturdy stem mounting. Thanks to its rugged design, the...
$315.00

BLE-G-CI
Designed with vintage styles in mind, The Syracuse recalls the explosion-proof lighting once found in factories and warehouses. To establish this classic...
$325.00

BLE-C-OI
Featuring a timeless vintage-inspired aesthetic, The Chicago supplies authentic industrial details to residential and commercial spaces. Handcrafted in...
$280.00

BLE-CN-OI
Paying homage to 20th-century designs, The Chicago's industrial character and timeless profile appeal to the very latest contemporary styles as well. To...
$345.00

BLE-S-OI
With vintage industrial designs as inspiration, The Chicago complements the various styles found in contemporary homes and businesses. Mounting the shade to...
$305.00

BLE-G-OI
While The Chicago recalls early 20th-century explosion proof lighting, its rounded shape and industrial edge also appeals to contemporary décors and the...
$315.00

BLE-C-SI
The Rochester can trace its roots back to the early 20th century when RLM shades first illuminated warehouses and factories. To pay homage to those original...
$280.00

BLE-CN-SI
Embracing influences from early 20th century fixtures, The Rochester combines a classic RLM warehouse shade and rugged guard with a cord and chain mounting....
$345.00

BLE-S-SI
Inspired by early 20th century explosion-proof lighting, The Rochester’s industrial design complements the various styles prominent in contemporary décors....
$305.00

BLE-G-SI
Featuring a handspun RLM shade and vintage industrial styles, The Rochester recalls early 20th century designs. By finding inspiration in classic fixtures,...
$315.00
 

What is Porcelain Enamel? And why’s it used in lighting?

Porcelain enamel is a glass coating used in the manufacturing of innumerable household products. Also referred to as vitreous enamel, porcelain’s appeal primarily centers on its inherent ability to strengthen and protect these items from everyday wear and tear.

Due to its unmatched durability and resiliency, porcelain was an industry standard for historic lighting manufacturers. The shades once installed in factories, warehouses, and agricultural settings were ensconced with layers of porcelain enamel to help them withstand the sometimes taxing conditions they faced in these locations.

What are some aesthetic benefits to porcelain?

Unlike other finishes which can gradually fade with age, porcelain has demonstrated the ability to retain its color even after decades of use. Along with this color retention, porcelain possesses high-gloss properties that beautifully render colors and let the shades glisten in the sunlight.

What is RLM lighting?

Porcelain enamel is most commonly used on traditional RLM lighting shades—that stands for Reflective Luminaire Manufacturer. RLM lights are designed to direct light downward onto floors, sidewalks, and other surfaces, filling homes and businesses with illumination. These lights originated to brighten industrial and outdoor settings, but they eventually found their way into the interior spaces of businesses and homes.

RLM designs have remained consistent throughout the 20th century. Because they feature nostalgic character without feeling outdated or antiquated, RLM lights are still prominently featured in contemporary homes and businesses. As new preferences and styles have emerged, slight variations on these classic designs, like rounded lines and subtle playfulness, let RLM shades remain relevant to modern spaces.

How is porcelain enamel lighting constructed?

Historically, porcelain light fixtures were manufactured exclusively by hand, but eventually mass production replaced this “hands on” approach. However, manufacturers like Barn Light Electric, who revived the art of porcelain enamel lighting in the United States, honor the legacies of traditional lighting companies by producing American made lights and RLM shades by hand.

At Barn Light Electric, the process of creating porcelain enamel lights begins as round disks are stamped out of flat pieces of steel. The steel disks are then spun on a lathe and carefully worked around a mold by hand until it assumes the traditional shape. Holding the shades in their hands let our talented artisans pay meticulous attention to detail as they create each light.

Multiple layers of porcelain enamel are then applied to the shade to give them their distinctive appearance and ingrained durability. To permanently fuse the porcelain and steel together, the shades are fired in an oven capable of reaching temperatures of 1,600 degrees. After that, the shades are outfitted with sockets, mountings, and other customization options and shipped to homes and businesses throughout the country!

What the most common mountings for porcelain light fixtures? Where is porcelain enamel lighting typically installed?

Because porcelain light shades are capable of interior and exterior installation, they’re available with nearly every mounting imaginable. This lets every space embrace the nostalgic look of RLM porcelain lighting.

  • With a look evocative of the fixtures found on classic barns, porcelain gooseneck lights offer a grounded character to contemporary décors. This mounting protects the fixture’s wires, allowing installation in outdoor spaces and high volume commercial settings. Multiple angles of curved gooseneck arms further determine the light’s aesthetic while providing distance from the wall.
  • As pendant lighting, porcelain shades carry a traditional style to the various rooms of homes and businesses. Cord hung porcelain pendants are frequently installed above tables, both in kitchens and restaurants, to give spaces a defining aesthetic and establish its mood. Porcelain pendants with chain mountings function similarly, but with an enhanced industrial character. Because they protect the fixture’s wires, stem mounted pendants can be included in indoor and outdoor locations.
  • Mounted squarely against the wall, porcelain-coated sconces offer RLM styles with a more compact profile. With their wiring tucked away, wall sconces can greet guests outdoors on front porches or carry style into hallways.
  • Porcelain chandeliers unite multiple RLM shades with a single mounting. Used to make a statement in both homes and businesses, these lights function as the eye-catching focal points that define a room’s aesthetic.
  • For lights exclusively for outdoor spaces, porcelain post mount lights contribute security and style to settings like parking lots, public parks, and sidewalks.

With a vast selection of porcelain colors, wire cages and cast guards, and other options, all porcelain lighting can be fully customized to meet any space’s particular needs.

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