The Exhibit: The Alfred Collection

Every once in a while, a design comes along that feels both brand new and oddly familiar. The Alfred Collection is one of those—born from the memory of classic oil lanterns, but reimagined with clean lines and modern proportions.

The idea began with a simple gesture: to honor the humble oil lamp. Once a household essential, these lanterns carried a certain poetry: glass cradling flame, wire detailing for structure, a form that felt equal parts delicate and sturdy. Instead of replicating those details piece for piece, the design team took a more playful approach: exaggerating proportions, simplifying attachments, and distilling the silhouette down to its essence. The result is Alfred: a collection that nods to the past while carving out a place in the present.

A Modern Take on a Classic

Alfred’s silhouette is all about balance. Traditional lanterns were tall and narrow, while Alfred exaggerated the proportions into something wider and more architectural. The wire detailing, pared down to its essentials, hints at vintage hardware without weighing down the form. And at the center, an etched glass shade creates the collection’s defining moment—diffusing light into a soft, inviting glow.

That detail was intentional. “We wanted Alfred to create an atmosphere. When the light’s on, it’s cozy and diffused; when it’s off, the frosted glass still looks beautiful against the metal frame,” says Shannon, our Senior Designer.

Details That Tell a Story

The little touches carry the weight of history. A spherical element at the cord is a subtle nod to antique lamps with adjustable heights. The wire arms recall the structures that once supported oil reservoirs. And while these references ground the design, their simplicity keeps Alfred fresh and approachable.

Of course, making something so clean meant every detail mattered. “Vintage lanterns used to rely on dozens of parts. We stripped that down, which meant every weld and connection had to be just right. Simplicity is often the hardest thing to pull off.”

Designed for Everyday Spaces

Available in natural brass or satin black, Alfred spans a range of forms to suit different spaces. The Pendant makes a statement above a dining table or in an entryway. The Surface Mount is sized for hallways, powder rooms, or closets. The L-Arm Sconce feels equally at home framing a fireplace or brightening a covered porch, while the Sconce offers subtle, wall-wash lighting indoors or out.

More than a lantern revisited, Alfred is about atmosphere—taking a humble, utilitarian object from the past and reshaping it into something timeless for the homes of today.