The Volterra Linear Suspension | Natural Alabaster & Solid Copper

Alabaster, framed in brass. Suspended in velvet.

Two tiers of hand-cut Italian alabaster panels, mounted to a rectangular brass frame, suspended from a brass canopy by two ruched velvet sleeves that wrap the brass drop rods like fabric stockings — gathered, tactile, deliberately textural against the hardness of the stone and metal below.

The velvet suspension is the design signature. Most linear alabaster chandeliers hang on chain or cable — clean, architectural, expected. Volterra reverses the gesture: hard stone below, soft fabric above. The result reads less like a fixture and more like an object — a piece that designers spec when the room asks for warmth and tactility rather than minimalist restraint.

Where it belongs:

• Over a 6–10 seat dining table in rooms with 10–13 ft ceilings — Volterra's signature application.
• Above a serious kitchen island in a warm-toned or transitional kitchen where the velvet softens the hard surfaces below.
• In a formal dining room with Art Deco architectural references — pre-war apartments, 1920s-40s residential restorations, hotel-residential conversions.
• In hospitality dining that wants warmth: boutique hotel restaurant, private club dining room, residential-style hospitality space.
• In an eclectic-luxe or maximalist interior where Volterra's tactile texture pairs with layered materials below — woven rugs, velvet upholstery, mixed-metal hardware, layered fabrics.

About the alabaster.

Each panel is hand-cut from solid Spanish alabaster — vertical slabs, individually shaped and hung from the brass frame in two staggered tiers. The lower tier sits slightly forward of the upper, creating layered geometry that catches light from multiple directions.

Selection favors cloudy, smoke-veined alabaster — the softer, more diffused variety rather than the dramatic high-contrast veining. This is a deliberate aesthetic choice: cloudy alabaster lights more uniformly, integrates better against the warm velvet, and gives the fixture its signature amber-hued glow rather than the cooler whites of contemporary alabaster lighting.

Choose the veining at checkout:

• More veining — heavily patterned, dramatic
• Less veining — soft, cloudy, smoke-like (the catalog signature)
• Random selection — we choose from stock

About the velvet.

The suspension sleeves are gathered velvet in a warm champagne-gold tone, ruched over the brass drop rods underneath. The fabric isn't structural — the brass rods bear the weight of the fixture — but the velvet is what your eye reads from across the room.

Velvet sleeves are removable and replaceable. If the fabric tone needs to change to match a renovated interior years from now, the sleeves can be re-covered without rebuilding the fixture. We can also build to specification in alternate fabric tones — ivory, deep burgundy, navy, charcoal, or custom-matched to a sample swatch. Specify fabric tone at checkout, or send a swatch to our team for custom matching at no additional charge.

About the brass.

The frame, drop rods, canopy, and all hardware are solid brass — not plated, not coated. Solid construction throughout because the linear geometry exposes every brass element from multiple angles. Plated brass on a 41-inch frame would reveal itself within years along the long top edge.

Default finish is brushed brass (shown). Available in chrome or brushed black on request — specify at checkout. All finishes at the same price.

Bulbs and light.

12 × E12 candelabra base, max 40W per socket. Total load 480W — standard 600W dimmer accommodates the full load. LED candelabra strongly recommended for lower heat (protects the alabaster long-term) and longer life across 12 sockets.

Default light temperature is 2700K warm white — chosen to pair with the warm-toned velvet and amber alabaster character.

Dimmable on TRIAC 120V AC — Lutron Caseta, US residential dimmers, most home automation. (Previous version required a #dim note at checkout — dimming is now standard on all Volterra orders.)

Engineering and shipping.

Volterra undergoes a 48-hour electrical thermal stability test in our workshop before shipping — we power on every fixture for two full days and verify thermal performance within the stone enclosure. The load-bearing brass chassis is reinforced beyond standard spec to account for the alabaster mass.

Shipping is in custom-built reinforced plywood crates with high-density foam suspension — not standard cardboard. Fully insured for international transit. Ready for professional installation upon arrival.

Custom IP65 wet-rated version available.

Standard ships dry-rated. For wet-zone applications (covered outdoor dining, pool houses, primary bathrooms), Volterra is available with IP65 specification. Add $650 at checkout. Lead time extends 3–4 weeks.

Specifications

• Material: Hand-cut Spanish alabaster panels + solid brass frame, drop rods, canopy (not plated) + ruched velvet suspension sleeves
• Finish: Brushed brass (default) / chrome / brushed black — same price
• Velvet: Champagne gold (default) / ivory / burgundy / navy / charcoal / custom-matched — specify at checkout
• Alabaster veining: Cloudy smoke (default) / more veining / random — specify at checkout
• Bulbs: 12 × E12 candelabra, max 40W per socket (LED candelabra recommended; bulbs not included)
• Light temperature: 2700K default. 3000K / 4000K available on request.
• Wiring: Hardwired, UL listed for US 120V, CE certified for 220V EU. Pre-wired for region: US/EU/UK/AU.
• Voltage: 110V–240V universal compatibility
• Dimmable: Yes — TRIAC 120V AC compatible (standard, no special order code required)
• IP rating: Dry-rated standard. IP65 available +$650, +3–4 weeks lead time.
• Shipping: Reinforced wood crate with foam suspension, fully insured international transit
• Mounting: Reinforced ceiling blocking recommended. Standard junction box marginal at 40 lbs — licensed electrician should confirm.
• Warranty: 2-year mechanical and electrical
• Note: Alabaster is a natural stone. Veining and translucency variation between panels is intrinsic and not a defect.