Handcrafted Light, Rooted in New England: Sterling & Maple x Northeast Lantern

Written by Sterling & Maple Team

At Sterling and Maple, we believe a well-made home tells a story — not just through colors and textures, but through the details that quietly elevate the everyday. One of our favorite ways to do that? Lighting.

This season, we’re proud to shine a light (quite literally) on a collaboration that aligns perfectly with our values of craftsmanship, timeless design, and thoughtful sourcing: our partnership with Northeast Lantern.

American Craftsmanship, Built to Last

Founded in 1987 in Exeter, New Hampshire, Northeast Lantern is known for its dedication to handcrafting high-quality lighting fixtures using solid brass and copper, metals chosen not just for their beauty, but for their longevity and resilience. Each piece is built in-house by skilled artisans using traditional techniques: hand-bent, hand-soldered, and finished by hand. No mass production. No shortcuts. Just purposeful work done right.

Their lighting is more than a fixture, it’s a generational piece. And when paired with the layered, intentional spaces we design at Sterling and Maple, the result is nothing short of magic.

Why We Love Working With Northeast Lantern

This collaboration came from a shared love of:

• New England heritage and design

• Sustainable, lasting materials

• Customization that honors the unique style of each home

• Supporting American makers and small batch production

When we source lighting for your home, whether it’s a custom-built butler’s pantry, a cozy reading nook, or a timeless front entry, we want every element to feel connected, grounded, and personal. Northeast Lantern gives us that level of quality and artistry.

What We're Installing

Here are just a few ways we’re incorporating Northeast Lantern into upcoming Sterling and Maple projects:

• Traditional Onion Lanterns for historic-style exteriors with a modern twist

• Custom Copper Sconces in covered porches and hallways

• Elegant Pendant Lights over kitchen islands, finished in hand-rubbed antique brass

• Living Finishes that naturally patina over time, adding warmth and character

Each selection is tailored to the architecture, palette, and personality of the home.

The Beauty of a Living Finish

One of the most special things about Northeast Lantern’s lighting is something you can’t replicate with factory-made fixtures: the way it changes with time.

Many of their pieces are finished in unlacquered brass or raw copper, metals that are intentionally left unsealed so they can age naturally. This is what’s known as a “living finish.”

As the years pass, these fixtures begin to darken, deepen, and develop a soft, rich patina, shaped by their environment, by sunlight and seasons, and by simple daily use. No two fixtures age the same way, which means the light in your home becomes uniquely yours.

In an age of mass-produced everything, we find something deeply grounding in this: a material that doesn't stay perfect, but instead becomes more beautiful with time.

It’s one more way that Northeast Lantern helps us design spaces that feel personal, rooted, and real homes that grow into themselves, just like the people who live in them.

Light That Belongs

At Sterling and Maple, our goal is always to create spaces that feel lived-in and loved, and Northeast Lantern helps us do just that. Their lights don’t shout for attention; they belong, becoming part of the story your home tells over time. Whether you’re building your dream kitchen, updating your entryway, or selecting fixtures for a forever home, we’re thrilled to offer lighting that’s handmade with integrity, right here in New England.

Buy now and save 15% one item when you buy Northeast Lantern through us!

Evoking the classic lanterns from New England's rich nautical history, the Caged Onion collection features an iconic shape with a handcrafted brass or copper cage, protecting the hand-blown glass. The classic design makes them one of the most popular lights from Northeast Lantern.