So, it was a flop on "Home Decoration". Trying here instead - Original BTC bone china shades, how fragile?

[NinetyNinePercentTroll]

I'm considering a row of the Drop One pendants over my kitchen table but I'm worried about their durability - they'll be low hung over the table and will probably get clonked with plates/wine bottles etc during their lives. The glow through the china shades will be gorgeous but I've a horrible feeling they'll be too fragile for real life and will get chipped too easily if I catch the edge of one whilst clearing the table or whatever.

If I have to find a tougher alternative, I'm thinking a powder coated metal will be better for durability (though not as beautiful once the lights are on). I really like the teardrop shape and they will need to be dimmable. So any alternatives welcomed!

Thanks

Something like this?

Would you actually want them so low that you knock them? A bit higher maybe?

Just looked at the Drop One cluster. This has only a 55cm drop as a chandelier style. It is fixed height. The single lights set at this drop from the ceiling would not get knocked.

The pendants have a longer cable than the cluster

Cannot help on durability but B and Q are doing a lovely "rip off" range of Original BTC... You could jazz up with your own bright flex?

I haven't had these lights but did have a wall of BTC porcelain lights and they are very fragile - we cracked one (although they immediately sent a replacement part) so if they were over a table with a lot of movement around them I would be a bit worried. Sorry that's not an alternative but just thought I would mention!

I know the singles have a longer cable, but you do not have to use it all! You could hang it to the length of the cluster.

We've had two Original BTC pendants over our island for a couple of years. They haven't had any damage but I'm not happy with the quality - the lampholders had to be replaced because even though the pendants were rated for 100w lamps, they melted. We use low energy ones now but have to replace them far too often. We also have one of their table lamps, and the flex has frayed where it meets the base. I think they're great on design but less good on quality control!

If you do buy something else, you can get designer-y flex from Geoffrey Harris Lighting here.

I have the wall lamps, installed by my bed just before Christmas as a present to myself.

Already chipped one shade .

On the upside, I can replace them (they sell bases, shades and fittings separately). They're also pretty and the quality of light is exquisite.

On the downside, they're too fragile for bedside lamps given how clumsy it's possible to be when half asleep

Not as beautiful, but nice and more robust: Nordlux Funk, in translucent white acrylic. The smaller one, 22 cm diameter, might be suitable to hang in a row. They also come in various colours, some clear, some translucent and you can mix and match with various brightly coloured cables and fittings.

Thank you all for your help and the alternative suggestions. I've looked at the Nordlux but they aren't the right shape, unfortunately. The JL one is a closer shape but a bit flatter and I don't want a clear one (yes, I am a fussy moo).

Gutted, but not surprised by cooper & thesaurus' comments. A real shame and pretty much confirmed everything I was afraid of.

I'm a bit taken aback to read about the quality discrepancies though, I must say, fresh. I wasn't expecting that. I'd expect slight variation in colour and shape of the shades with them being ceramic, but I wouldn't expect them to actually melt!

As for hanging height, they would be hanging out of the way but we are a clumsy household with clumsy relatives so if it can get chipped, chances are it will get chipped.

I like these as an alternative! they are much bigger, but I don't know about their dimmability (!) and they have an ugly flex, looks like it's plastic coated or something like that, which is a bit yuck.

Hard to know without seeing how they're put together, but if they're not sealed units you might be able to change the cord for something nice... Or get your electrician to do it for you.

Yes, I will ask the sparky for his opinion on them