Porta Romana sounds Italian and is thoroughly British. Andrew and Sarah Hills founded it in 1988 to work with the country's best makers, and its Surrey studios still hand-paint every finish, from verdigris to something called Decayed Gold. Glass is blown, metal is cast, shades are made in-house, and each patination takes weeks to develop. Every Porta Romana piece here is an original, authenticated and restored, then delivered in 1 to 5 days. Originals only.
Porta Romana, British Hand-Finished Lighting Since 1988
Porta Romana was founded in 1988 by Andrew and Sarah Hills, and is run from Northbrook, near Farnham in Surrey, with Andrew Hills still Creative Director. Despite the name it has no Italian connection at all. The company designs lighting, mirrors and furniture, and works with a network of British makers, glassblowers, ceramicists, metalworkers and sculptors, while keeping its sculpting, painting and lampshade studios in-house at the Surrey headquarters.
The finishes are the signature. The painting studio has spent more than three decades building its own library of hand-painted patinations, each one taking weeks to develop, and the finishes page alone shows around ninety of them, with names like Verdigris, Decayed Gold, Old Rust, Scruffy White and Relic Bronze. Blown glass is made individually, so shape, colour and air bubbles vary from piece to piece by design. Brass is treated as a living finish and expected to patina. Recent work has won Livingetc and Homes & Gardens design awards for the Scallop Shell wall light, the Galia mirror and the Dajo sofa, and the brand became a certified B Corp in 2026.
Here is why it suits buying second-hand. Porta Romana restores and rewires its own older pieces, and will change a finish, recover a shade or swap a flex through what it calls the Upcycling Club. A piece bought years ago can be brought back or brought up to date by the people who made it. Every original at REHAUS is authenticated, restored where needed, and delivered in 1 to 5 days. Design doesn't depreciate, and a hand-painted patina that was designed to age does not suffer for having done so. The Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial mean reduced risk. Browse the originals.
Porta Romana: frequently asked questions
What is Porta Romana?
Porta Romana is a British lighting, mirror and furniture brand founded in 1988 by Andrew and Sarah Hills and based near Farnham in Surrey. It is known for hand-painted finishes developed in its own studio, hand-blown glass and sculptural forms, and it sells both directly and through interior designers.
Is Porta Romana Italian?
No, despite the name. Porta Romana is a British company founded in 1988 and run from Surrey, with in-house sculpting, painting and lampshade studios and a network of British makers. The name is shared with a district of Milan and a gate in Rome, which is why the brand is so often assumed to be Italian. It is not.
What is Porta Romana known for?
Its finishes above all. The painting studio has spent over three decades developing its own library of hand-painted patinations, each taking weeks to perfect, with names such as Verdigris, Decayed Gold and Old Rust. Alongside that: hand-blown glass, cast metal, sculptural table and floor lamps, and mirrors. Recent pieces have won Livingetc and Homes & Gardens design awards.
Where can I buy pre-owned Porta Romana lighting in the UK?
REHAUS sells authenticated, original Porta Romana in the UK. Every piece is checked against the real thing, restored where needed, and delivered nationwide in 1 to 5 days, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial. You buy from one company, not a private seller, and stock is one of one.
Can Porta Romana pieces be restored or rewired?
Yes, and by the maker. Porta Romana offers complete restoration and rewiring of its own products, and through what it calls the Upcycling Club will change a finish, recover a lampshade or swap a flex. It also supplies replacement parts and touch-in kits. Few brands support their own older pieces this thoroughly, which is a real argument for buying one second-hand.
Is pre-owned Porta Romana worth buying?
Yes. The pieces are hand-finished in materials chosen to age: brass is treated as a living finish and expected to patina, and hand-blown glass varies from piece to piece by design, so honest wear reads as character rather than damage. The maker also restores and rewires its own work. Every piece at REHAUS is authenticated, restored where needed, and backed by the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial.
How is Porta Romana delivered, and can I return it?
Each piece is delivered in 1 to 5 days, with white-glove delivery complimentary on qualifying orders. Every order comes with a 30-day home trial, so you can live with it before committing. If it is not right, returns are straightforward. Because each piece is one of one, it is only truly yours once it has shipped.
Why buy Porta Romana from REHAUS?
REHAUS sells originals only. Every Porta Romana piece is authenticated, restored to a high standard, and delivered fast across the UK, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial. New, a Porta Romana lamp starts in the hundreds and climbs well past four figures, so a checked, restored original is the same hand-finished piece at a different price.
