Retro Bronze Outdoor Wall Lantern

A lantern beside the door is one of the oldest ideas in outdoor lighting, and it still works. The Retro Bronze Outdoor Wall Lantern keeps that familiar shape, with a cage frame and clear panels, but builds it in a modern sealed body that holds up to weather season after season.

The result is a light with character that also does its job: lighting the steps, the keys and the house number when you come home after dark.

A patterned glow, not a flat wash

The cage frame is what gives this lantern its character at night. Instead of a plain sheet of light on the wall, the frame breaks the glow into a pattern, casting soft lines and shadows around the fixture.

That texture is what makes a traditional lantern feel warmer than a plain modern box. It gives the entrance something to look at, and it changes as you move past.

Built for weather

The housing is aluminum with a rust resistant painted finish, and the panels are clear acrylic rather than glass. Acrylic stands up to weather and does not shatter if something hits it, which is worth having on a lantern beside a busy door, a gate or a drive where a stray ball or a garden tool might reach it.

Keep the seal and gasket free of grit so water cannot pool inside the housing, and wipe the panels when they dull.

Size and clearance

The lantern stands 16.9 inches tall and 7.9 inches wide, and it projects 9.1 inches from the wall, as listed in the Dimensions section.

That projection is generous, which is part of the presence, but it needs planning. Beside a narrow path or a door people pass closely, mount it high enough and far enough to one side that nobody catches a shoulder or a bag on it.

Bulb and light

It takes a standard E27 bulb, which is not included, so pick one rated for outdoor use in an exposed fitting. That also lets you set the mood: a soft warm bulb for a gentle, traditional glow, or a brighter one where the entrance needs clear light.

• Warm bulbs suit the classic look of the cage frame.
• Brighter bulbs help on a dark street or a long drive.
• Match bulbs across a pair so both lanterns glow the same.
• Choose an outdoor rated bulb if the fitting is exposed.

Where the lantern works

• Front doors. A single lantern, or a pair, frames the entrance.
• Porches. A traditional shape suits a covered entrance.
• Garden gates. A lantern on the wall marks the way in.
• Garage walls. Light the drive and the door after dark.
• Period homes. The retro frame suits brick, stone and painted timber.

Mounting and care

Turn the power off at the breaker before starting, and have an electrician run a supply to the point if there is none there. It fixes to an exterior wall at a front door, a porch or a garden gate.

Wipe the lantern with a soft, dry cloth, and wipe the panels when they dull so the light stays bright. Keeping the gasket clean is the single best thing you can do for its life outdoors.

For more lanterns and wall lights, browse the outdoor wall sconces collection, or see the outdoor lanterns collection for hanging and portable versions. A few path lights along the walk complete a classic entrance.

Bronze and black give the lantern two quite different characters. Bronze is warmer and suits brick, stone and older houses, while black is crisper and works well with painted siding and modern farmhouse styles.

A pair either side of a front door remains the most satisfying arrangement, giving the entrance symmetry. Where only one is possible, balance it with a planter or a house number on the other side so the door does not look lopsided.

A cage lantern rewards a bulb that suits it. A clear bulb makes the pattern of the frame sharper on the wall, while a frosted one softens it into a gentle glow. Neither is wrong, and swapping one for the other is the cheapest way to change the character of an entrance once the lantern is up.

Mounting height matters just as much. Too low, and the frame throws its pattern mostly onto the ground. Too high, and the glow spreads thin. Around head height or a little above usually gives the best balance, with light on the wall, on the door and on the step.

Seasonal cleaning keeps it looking its best, since acrylic panels dull with dust and pollen faster than they mark.

Fitting the bulb before the lantern goes up on the wall is far easier than reaching into it once it is mounted.

Is the retro lantern right for your home?

This lantern is a good fit if you:

• Want a traditional cage lantern with a patterned glow.
• Prefer acrylic panels that will not shatter.
• Have room for a fixture that projects 9.1 inches.
• Can have an electrician run a supply to the wall.

It is a decorative entry light rather than a floodlight. For bright security light over a driveway, a flood light will do more.

Every order ships free across the US and most arrive in 6 to 9 business days. Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days, and questions sent to info@norafurnish.com are answered in 1 to 2 business days.