Sunday 23 June 2013

Making an Arts and Crafts Lantern for the Bungalow

I have been looking on the internet for weeks for some appropriate light fittings for the bungalow. I love these beautiful craftsman chandelier lanterns and wanted something similar.  


This picture (below) is from the dining room of the Gamble House, a house built in California in 1908 by the famous architects Greene and Greene.


Because lights can really make a room, they have to be appropriate to the period of the house. Because none could be bought, I finally decided to take a brave step and make my own. I bought some cheap light fittings and took the globes out.


I set about making a lantern chandelier and so started with a box made of balsa wood. 



Instead of using glass I decided to use paper. I don't have the tools to use glass, though I would have preferred it. Next time perhaps...


I then made the lantern top from base wood. 



I also made a ceiling fitting. 


To make the paper look like glass I coloured it with water colour pencils (I used special water colour paper which does not warp) and drew the lead light pattern on with fine line marker. 


I stained the wood in walnut and threaded and fixed in the light globe. 


I glued it all together, but it was quite fragile (I managed to break it twice before it went in to the house).


The finished product worked so well I have decided to make all the light fittings for the entire house!




9 comments:

  1. Amazing work, your light is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, that 's an amazing light! The paper works wonderfully well!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very nice...it's amazing what people can do with Paddle Pop Sticks.(ice cream sticks) IndyPoppy

    ReplyDelete
  4. Muchas gracias! es una lampara preciosa!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. WHOA. Now THAT is an impressive handmade light.

    I would steal this idea in a second...if I weren't already making midcentury-ish pendant lights! (Before I even began construction, I decided that my bungalow was "built" in 1920 and "updated" in 1962.)

    ReplyDelete
  6. what a great light, thank you for sharing how you did it

    ReplyDelete
  7. WOW, what a fantastic light, well done!!
    Hugs, Ilona

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Emily,
    It is superb! Frank Lloyd Wright would be proud!
    Big hug,
    Giac

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just came across your blog and this is one of the first things I looked at. I am floored. That light is gorgeous!!! Now, off to waste away my afternoon. :)

    ReplyDelete