Buchanan Antique Tartan Lamp

There’s something about tartan that makes it instantly recognisable, even if you couldn’t tell one pattern from another. And while the brighter, more traditional tartans are probably the ones most people think of, I’ve always thought some of the more muted versions are particularly attractive.

The shade is 3D printed using PLA, a plant-based plastic commonly made from corn starch. I then print the artwork directly onto the surface using my UV printer, giving the finished light its colour and detail.

Buchanan Antique Tartan is a good example. Rather than the vivid yellows and reds associated with some versions of Buchanan tartan, this one has a much softer combination of warm coral, muted greens, greys and earthy tones. It still has that unmistakable Scottish tartan appearance, but without being quite so bold.

For this Buchanan Antique Tartan Lamp, I’ve taken the traditional woven pattern and wrapped it around one of my cylindrical lights. The artwork includes the fine diagonal lines that give tartan fabric its distinctive texture, so even though the surface is printed rather than woven, you still get something of the appearance of the original cloth.

I think it works particularly well as a light. When it’s switched off, the colours are quite subtle, but switch it on and the warmer shades start to glow through the fabric pattern. The reds and coral tones become much more noticeable, while the darker lines retain their definition.

It’s a nice way of bringing a bit of Scottish character into a room without necessarily having tartan curtains, cushions or a great big rug.

And because it’s rechargeable, you can put your tartan table lamp pretty much wherever you like. I can imagine this one looking good on a wooden sideboard, a bedside table or tucked into a bookshelf alongside a few favourite things. There’s no need for a nearby socket and no trailing cable, so you can move it around whenever you fancy a change.

A full charge gives around 12 hours or more of use, and a couple of hours charging every few days should keep you going nicely.

The included remote control lets you choose from 13 LED colours and five brightness levels, or set the light to slowly fade through the colours. There are also 30 and 60 minute timers if you’d like it to switch itself off automatically. Personally, I think the warmer white settings suit this tartan particularly well.

At around 23cm tall, the Buchanan tartan lamp is large enough to show off the pattern without taking up too much space.

Whether you have a connection to Clan Buchanan, enjoy Scottish design or simply like the colours, I think this one makes an interesting alternative to a conventional table lamp.

And unlike a tartan blanket, you won’t have to worry about the dog claiming it as his own.

The original artwork for this design was created with the assistance of AI and then used as part of my process to create the finished light. Each light is personally made and finished by me.