Extension Stem 24 in | Blackjack Lighting

The Extension Stem is the quiet part of a stem-hung Blackjack fixture that sets its height. It is a straight 24-inch tube, half an inch across, threaded at the ends so it screws into the existing stem sections of compatible pendants and chandeliers. Add one and the fixture drops by two feet; add more and it can hang lower still, which matters under tall ceilings and in stairwells where a chandelier should float in the space rather than hug the ceiling.

Because a stem is part of the composition, it is made in the same finishes as the fixtures it serves. Polished Chrome, Satin Nickel, Brushed Brass and Etched Gold let the drop rod continue the line of the fixture without a visible change of material.

Design notes

• Purpose: lowers stem-mounted Blackjack fixtures by 24 in per section to suit high ceilings.
• Simple joint: threads directly into existing stem sections; no splicing or adapters.
• Proportion: 0.5 in (1.27 cm) diameter to match the slim Blackjack stems.
• Matching metals: four finishes chosen to continue the finish of the fixture.
• Specify by finish: order the finish that matches your fixture so the stem reads as one continuous line.

Specifications

Downloads

• Extension Stem specification sheet (PDF)

Stephen Blackman and Blackjack Lighting

Blackjack Lighting is the studio of industrial designer Stephen Blackman, its President and Chief Design Officer. Trained in industrial design at Syracuse University, Blackman began his lighting career in 1984 at Sonneman Design Group, then founded Blackman Design Associates in 1988, designing decorative and architectural lighting for manufacturers including Kichler. He launched Blackjack in 2013 in suburban Chicago, now based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, to build fixtures conceived for LED from the first sketch.

His argument is that the LED should change the shape of a light, not just its efficiency. Rather than hiding a new source inside old bulb-and-shade forms, Blackjack designs around the small, flat, cool-running LED: thin discs, slim rods, glowing rings and lenses that let the light itself become the object. In his own words, "Decorative lighting by its nature is not primarily about optimizing lamp efficiency, it is primarily about decoration!" Even an accessory like the Extension Stem follows that logic: a slim, honest line of metal that lets the light hang exactly where it should.

Questions

What does the Extension Stem do?

It adds 24 in of length to a stem-mounted Blackjack fixture, letting you lower the light to the right height under a tall ceiling.

Who is behind Blackjack Lighting?

Industrial designer Stephen Blackman, President and Chief Design Officer, who has designed lighting since 1984 and founded Blackjack in 2013.

Which finish should I choose?

Match the finish of your fixture: Polished Chrome, Satin Nickel, Brushed Brass or Etched Gold.

How does it attach?

It threads directly into the existing stem sections of compatible fixtures.

What warranty does it carry?

Blackjack covers materials and workmanship for one year for the original buyer in the US and Canada.