nishi chauhan upcycles old bottles for customizable animal lamp

nishi chauhan upcycles old bottles for customizable animal lamp
all images courtesy of nishi chauhan

‘dunk’ is the latest creature to join nishi chauhan‘s ‘animal farm‘, a series of endearing and lovable animal lamps centered around the twin themes of craft revival and repurposing of used objects. these upcycled bottles visualize beast-like forms featuring the wood lac-turnery craft of channapatna in karnataka, india. the work was recently awarded a red dot design award, best of the best, 2014, in singapore. 

the components laid out

according to chauhan, ‘the piece is a warm and friendly fantasy creature that tells us an intimate story with a simple and elegant style.’ its bold and symmetrical massings made from turned and lacquered timber accentuates the beautiful glass silhouette that construct its body. within this framework, a bulb provides a soft glow that lends a relaxing atmosphere to the surroundings.

the object with graphics from a catalogue

the product constitutes two distinct materials, glass and lumber, that grant shape and volume to the idea and make it conducive to the contemporary home environment. the first emanates a diffused light, while the second appears in the shape of a head, base, and legs that house the torso with a strong visual language of color, giving the piece further possibilities for expression and customization.

the work is a winner of red dot design award, best of the best, 2014

with minimal intervention from the creator and the manufacturer, waste is reborn as ‘dunk’. the project is an effort to move away from the back yard innovation image and tap into the good craftsmanship talent that india possesses. the object is not designed to stay still in one place, but to travel through rooms in the house or any other desired space, in a variety of situations and moods. naturally elegant in green, sharp and refined in black, warm and reassuring in ochre, bright and exuberant in red and orange, these five shades allow for everyone to choose their ideal lamp.

an unfinished dunk head

the wooden pieces shimmer from lacquer

reclaimed bottles, washed and ready for processing 

variations and iterations 

production 

getting ready for assembly and finishing 

achieving precision 

the craftsman at work

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.