Look for Less: Droog versus Z Gallerie

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Dutch designer Rody Graumans created the design called 85 Lamps, left, for firm Droog in 1993, and since then the piece has become an iconic contemporary chandelier. Part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the International Design Museum in Munich, the piece has been praised for its sense of opulence using only simple, industrial materials. It has long been a favorite of architects, designers and style-conscious homeowners, but it hasn’t always been a hit with environmentalists, who complain that is uses 85 bulbs (at 15 watts apiece), or with budget-minded shoppers, who see the $3,796 price at www.unicahome.com.

This spring, Z Gallerie has introduced a chandelier that looks like a mini-me version of Graumans’ original. Called the Loft chandelier, right, it’s made up of far fewer bulbs — only 10 — which have a metallic coating on the bottom half to soften the illumination. Unlike 85 Lamps, whose cords are gathered in a bundle, the Loft chandelier cords are grouped at the top with a ribbed black rubber tubing. It sells for $299.

-- Alexandria Abramian Mott

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