There is nothing quite like a camel skin lamp. When you switch one on for the first time, the painted camel skin begins to glow amber and gold, and the effect is unlike anything a factory-made light fitting can produce. It is part lamp, part lantern and part work of art.
This guide explains what camel skin lamps are, where they come from, how they are made, and what to look for when buying one.
What Is a Camel Skin Lamp?
A camel skin lamp (also called a Pakistani leather lamp, Multan camel hide lamp or simply a camel lamp) is a traditional Pakistani lamp handcrafted in Multan, Punjab. The shade is made from genuine camel skin that has been cleaned, stretched over a frame, dried, and then painted by hand with decorative patterns. When lit from inside, the semi-translucent skin lets light pass through and creates a warm, atmospheric glow.
Camel skin lamps are closely associated with Multan, the same city known for Multan blue pottery, and like blue pottery it is a long-standing local craft.
Camel Skin Craft in Multan
Multan has long been a centre of trade and craft in the Punjab, and its artisans have a long history of working with leather and hides. Camel skin has a special quality: when it is stretched thin and dried, it becomes semi-translucent, which makes it ideal for lamps and lanterns.
Multan is also known as the city of saints, home to famous Sufi shrines, and Sufi imagery such as whirling dervishes, along with calligraphy and floral patterns, became some of the most popular designs on camel skin lamps. Today the craft continues in workshops across the city, with each lamp still painted by hand.
How Are Camel Skin Lamps Made?
Making a camel skin lamp is labour-intensive, and every stage is done by hand.
Preparing the skin: The camel skin is cleaned and softened, then stretched and dried. Drying under tension tightens the skin and gives it the translucency that makes the finished lamp glow.
Shaping: The skin is shaped over a mould or frame into the lamp’s form. Common shapes include round lamps, lanterns and figurative forms such as camel-shaped lamps.
Hand painting: Once the skin holds its shape, the artisan paints the design with fine brushes. Popular motifs include Sufi dancers, floral patterns, Islamic calligraphy, village scenes and local landmarks such as Multan Fort. Each design is painted freehand, so you will always see small variations that mark the human hand.
Finishing: A lamp holder and cord are fitted inside the shade, ready for a bulb.
Types of Camel Skin Lamps
Zayak Craft’s camel skin lamp collection includes several styles:
- Sufi dancer and dervish lamps: the whirling dervish, one of Multan’s signature motifs
- Floral lamps: flowing floral patterns in warm earth tones
- Calligraphy lamps: Arabic calligraphy as the main decoration
- Scenic lamps: village life and Multan Fort designs
- Lanterns and figurative lamps: a camel skin and fabric lantern, and a camel-shaped lamp
How to Use a Camel Skin Lamp
Camel skin lamps are made for indoor use as ambient or accent lighting. They work well in:
- Living rooms, as a warm focal point
- Bedrooms, for soft evening light
- Reading nooks, prayer corners and study spaces
- Hotels, restaurants and cafés looking for distinctive décor
We recommend a small, low-heat LED bulb in a warm white. LEDs stay cool, which protects the camel skin and the painted surface, and they bring out the amber glow.
To clean a camel skin lamp, dust it gently with a soft, dry cloth and keep it away from water and damp areas.
Buy Camel Skin Lamps Online, Shipped from Multan
Zayak Craft ships handmade camel skin lamps from Multan, Pakistan worldwide by tracked international courier. Each lamp is packed in bubble wrap and a protective box. Delivery times by country are on our Shipping Policy page.
Each lamp comes with a fitted lamp holder and cord; bulbs are not included. Custom designs are available for bulk and wholesale buyers via our Export & Wholesale page.