samuel wilkinson creates blown pendant lamp

samuel wilkinson creates blown pendant lamp
all images courtesy of samuel wilkinson

playing with reflection and refraction the pendant light ‘blown’ by london-based designer samuel wilkinson for &tradition was launched during the london design festival 2013. experimenting with glass through different areas from manipulation to reflectivity, the design development explored the material’s refractive qualities, breaking up the light in an aesthetic way without compromising its function. the concept was informed by antique ceramics, lenses from very old lamps, lighthouses and even a mirrored bottle.

‘I wanted to explore reflection and refraction in glass, to see how it breaks up the light. I wanted to design something that really enhanced that aspect of the material,’ says samuel wilkinson.

the construction of the lamps followed a very technical process starting with a rough prototype, then re-working and refining it to manipulate various shapes. the texture of the glass is rendered carefully in 3D cad in order to control the inflation of each bubble precisely, achieving fine control of how the form would reflect the light at different angles. the challenge translating this intricate data onto the material, a mould structure was created with zig-zag teeth that fit into each other – the lines hide in between the pattern. two different types were blown, one with a metallic silver lustre, which has more sheen, and the other is sandblasted on the inside and outside.

two variations, one sandblasted inside and outside, the other with a transparent shade

close up of the two finishes

the fitting at the top has a supper matte finish to contrast with the glass shade

the lamp consists of a patterned glass shade with die-cast aluminum fitting

the light source reflects and refracts off the inside surface

the glass form as it comes out of the tool

testing different finishes in the factory

metal patterned mould

diagram showing the complex tool line to conceal the moulding marks 

early sketch of the pattern

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