Ishah table lamp

Object of desire Nothing detracts from the purity of its form; its low-slung silhouette and sober black and chrome colouring only add to the effect.

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This lamp, tucked away on top of a tall console in a discreet corner of The One in Abu Dhabi Mall, seemed to leap out and catch my eye - much more than the tempting array of sales-period bargains that filled the shop. Its designer has reduced everything to a minimum; nothing detracts from the purity of its form. On the contrary, its low-slung silhouette and sober black and chrome colouring only add to the effect.

It is utterly contemporary, almost futuristic, yet in some indefinable way it hints at the best of mid-20th century design and even Art Deco. So, for the trend-hunters among you, yes - it is completely in tune with the vintage-meets-modern trend. On the other hand, it would slide very comfortably into that well-upholstered, elegant "international modern" style that you see in posh apartments and hotels in New York, Hong Kong and London.

The matt-painted metal shade does its job so much better than fabric would, allowing none of the light to be diffused but concentrating it all into a circular pool on the surface where it sits (and highlighting the chrome base too). So, while this is a table lamp, its job is to create mood and focus, rather than to be a work lamp. A job it does perfectly. There's a space on the console in my entrance hall that's crying out for Ishah. And there's a spot on my dining-room sideboard that's crying just as loudly. But perhaps there's no need to choose: at Dh395 should I simply get one for each place? The price seems very reasonable for such a good piece of design.