Types of Outdoor Lights

Historic, Traditional, and Antique Outdoor Lights

Over the centuries — and, of course, without electricity until just over 100 years ago — various types of outdoor lights have evolved. Since Terra Lumi specializes in historic outdoor lights, garden lamps, lanterns, barn lights, and globe lights, here is a short overview focused on their traditional forms and types. As a side note: "historic" outdoor lights are new fixtures made after old models, while "antique" outdoor lights refer to genuine period originals more than 100 years old.

Cast Lanterns and Lanterns Made of Shaped Metal

A lantern is generally understood as a combination of a self-contained light source and protection from wind or rain. This protection from weather, dirt, and mechanical stress is what makes durable, low-maintenance outdoor lighting possible in the first place. Lanterns already existed in the early Middle Ages: a candle, or sometimes a small oil lamp, was set inside a metal frame whose sides were fitted with horn plates or panes of glass or crystal. They served to light living spaces, as a light source carried along dark paths, and as signals on ships. Wrought iron hanging lanterns became a subject of formal artistic training as early as the 16th century.

Low-Profile Wall Lights for Outdoor Areas

In the narrower sense, as beautifully illustrated by models from Roger Pradier, a lantern today refers to a fixture whose light source is fully enclosed at the sides and top (and sometimes the bottom) by a metal frame and glass panes. Lanterns come as ceiling and pendant lights, wall lanterns, flush-mount wall lights, garden and pedestal lights, and as a fixture head for post lights (a "street lantern"). A special case among lanterns are half-lanterns for flush wall mounting and three-quarter lanterns for corner mounting, as offered by our French manufacturer Lumin'Art.

Barn Lights, Shade Lights, and Reflector Lights

The barn light, shade light, or reflector light is a fixture type that became established for outdoor use not long after electric light was introduced more than 100 years ago. Especially in rural areas, original Art Nouveau barn lights can still often be seen today on the walls of town houses and farmhouses — which says a good deal about the advantages of this fixture type: it's extremely durable and robust. Shade lights are also often the first choice when downward-directed light is needed, for example at an entrance.

Shade lights work well as wall lights, garden lights, hanging lights, and ceiling lights

A barn light consists of a metal arm, a round metal reflector or shade — sometimes enamelled — and often a glass shade (cylinder glass) that fits over the bulb as weather protection. A barn light used as a ceiling fixture is called a stable light; these have quietly done their job in beer gardens for decades. Barn lights are also available as ceiling and pendant lights, wall and pedestal lights, and as a fixture head for post lights.

The Globe Outdoor Light: Even Light Output in Every Direction

The sphere, as a shape for a light source, is the lantern reduced to its essential element: the glass diffuser. Globe lights — already popular in Art Nouveau and later, above all, in Art Deco — offer real advantages outdoors: softened mainly through satin or opal glass, they spread light evenly in every direction. They're excellent for lighting larger areas, and work particularly well in pairs or in series. Wherever adaptability is the top priority and the fixture should only subtly underline a property's character, the globe light is always worth considering.

The Gooseneck Outdoor Light: Historically Significant

Today, a gooseneck light refers to what's technically a round-shade lantern hanging from a curved wall or post bracket — the term "arc lamp" originally referred to the electric arc inside the light source itself. The most famous and sought-after example was designed by Peter Behrens: the large AEG arc economy lamp. Behrens was a German architect, painter, and designer, regarded as an early pioneer of industrial design. Today, the original Behrens fixture can only be admired in museums — but we offer a licensed reproduction of this showpiece with the Bogenleuchte A 8 model from Berliner Laternen.