15” diameter

In 1987, I built my first lighting fixture for over the dining table in the new home. I cut James Platineau Olive Oil bottles and fluted the edge. The metal is cut, carved, and brazed steel for the body of the lamp and the fluted and spiraling chain. I showed it to a designer in New York and they suggested making an electrified version. I was interested in Roman and Etruscan artifacts that I had seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that used metal to hold up glass or ceramic objects. The brazed metal has the look of something ancient. I went on to design and build scores of lighting fixtures all over the country.

Recently found sketch pad that I used at the Metropolitan Museum that day in 1987. Here are a few sketches (left) done in situation, and a drawing for the idea of the cut and beveled bottle candelabra (below).

This is a good example of being influenced by a method or style in construction of an object. I liked the feel of the Etruscan artifacts and did some sketches but I did not copy any design to build these chandeliers. I made it my own by exploring the materials and using flutes and spirals as a design element, so it has the “feel” of an ancient object but is actually something new.