What’s in a Name ?

Finding names for our lights is always a joy and a chance for us to pay homage to the people and things that inspire and shape our work. We draw inspiration from; nature, literature, art, architecture and costume design.

Gainsborough // A nod to portrait and landscape painter, Thomas Gainsborough – considered to be one of the most important British artists of the second half of the 18th century. Born and raised in Sudbury, Suffolk, the beautiful local scenery served as an inspiration to Gainsborough throughout his career, frequently choosing his surrounding landscapes as the subject of his paintings.

Constable // One of the most renowned landscape artists of the 19th century, John Constable resided in East Bergholt – a picturesque, neighbouring village to West Bergholt, where Lam Lighting is based. Much like Gainsborough, he was hugely inspired by the beautiful Suffolk countryside. In fact, Dedham Vale (the area surrounding his home), is now widely known as ‘Constable Country’. He held a life-long affection for the area, penning in a letter in 1821: “I should paint my own places best. Painting is but another word for feeling.”

Millais // Sir John Everett Millais was one of the founding members of the hugely influential Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. One of his most famous works is ‘Ophelia’ (another one of our pendant names). Millais began the background of the painting in 1851, maintaining a close study of nature with incredible attention to detail – classic of the Pre-Raphaelite style. The image depicts the character of Ophelia, from Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’, as well as a wealth of botanical detail – each of the plants representing a symbolic significance.

Ophelia // A leading characters in William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet.’ In one scene, Ophelia distributes a collection of imaginary flowers – each one a symbol, depicting her feelings that she could not otherwise express.

Bronté // The namesake of one of the most beloved and influential literary families of all time. Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë dramatically changed not only the course of classic Victorian literature, but the face of English literature forever. Each of their most celebrated works – ‘Jane Eyre’, ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Agnes Grey’ (respectively), explore the depths of human nature and experience.

Heathcliff // The mysterious protagonist of Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights. His forbidden love for Cathy plays out across the wild Yorkshire Moors.