5 Portable LED Lamps That Take Mood Lighting Mobile
Vibia, Africa
Nothing can ruin the moody ambience at a dimly lit, romantic restaurant faster than someone shining their harsh iPhone light. Talk about an etiquette faux pas! Granted, we all can use a little extra illumination at times—whether it’s when reading the fine print in a dark room or working in the office late-night. But there must be a better way, no? It turns out these five stylish, rechargeable, and portable LED lamps from Ambientec, QU Lighting, Buster + Punch, Established + Sons, and Vibia fit the bill. Take them on the move to provide just the right amount of light exactly when and where you need it.
Ambientec, Barcarolle
Ambientec
We get a strong hit of nostalgia from the Barcarolle collection of portable lamps designed by Yoshiki Matsuyama for the Japanese brand Ambientec. Reminiscent of steampunk, the handcrafted antiquity of streetlamps, and historic European architecture, Barcarolle comes in four copper-plated column heights, and a glass shade can be added. Adding to the charm, Barcarolle’s atmospheric “Glow” mode (one of four dimming LED modes) gradually softens and dims the light intensity.
Established + Sons, Gelato
Established + Sons
Established + Sons’ mouthwatering Gelato lamp—a development of an archive project from the 1960s by Italian designer Carlo Nason—will have you craving a chocolate treat during an evening passeggiata in the piazza. Gelato features a delicate opaline blown glass sphere “scoop” that rotates to access the LED dimming switch and charging port, and it sits on a translucent “cup” base in soft mint green, deep azure blue, classic smoke gray, and vibrant spritz orange. Simply delicious!
Buster + Punch, Takeout
Buster + Punch
The first portable lamp from Buster + Punch, Takeout captures the London brand’s signature polished industrial aesthetic. Designed to perform indoors or outdoors, rain or shine, Takeout radiates a warm, candle-like glow while a secondary LED canopy lights up the table below. With a solid metal body, iconic cross-knurling, and a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 14 hours, it’s more than a pretty face: It’s a light with purpose that you can take anywhere you want to go.
QU Lighting, Brillina
QU Lighting
We love the deconstructed form of Brillina, QU Lighting’s first rechargeable portable lamp. Parisotto + Formenton Architetti designed this perfect little light for Milan Design Week as part of QU’s "Quattro—a taste of light" installation, exploring the theme of hospitality. Crafted from aluminum mechanical parts and technical polymers, Brillina features a sandblasted PMMA light guide with an integrated mirrored reflector, ensuring uniform and controlled LED illumination. The luxe leather strap on top of Brillina offers playful uses, like hanging from a branch, a shelf, or a wall hook.
Vibia, Africa
Vibia
While many portable lamps are used for hospitality spaces, Vibia’s Africa is intended as a work lamp. A creation of Argentinian-born, Milan-based designer Francisco Gomez Paz, Africa has a sculptural shape that provides a close, focused illumination. Made of a single piece of 100% recyclable aluminum and finished in a lacquered matte texture, Africa comes in two sizes and offers three levels of light intensity, controlled with the touch of a button. The LED lamp recharges on a small stand the width of its base, leaving room on your desk for what’s important, without sacrificing aesthetics.
—Rita Catinella Orrell