Lamps Booklet (PDF)

HANDMADE SUFFOLK ASH & PORCELAIN LAMPS

THE CONCEPT

It began as an idea for a Christmas present - a handmade lamp using local
materials and traditional skills.
And it has led to a collaboration between James and Steven, studio neighbours on
a rural Suffolk estate, where small batches of lamps are made a few times a year.

THE STAND

The start of each lamp is selecting boards of local Ash that have been cut and
seasoned at the Estate’s 1930’s sawmill.
These are carried back to the studios and then the wood is hand worked and sawn
down to correct length and width.

The design of the lamp stand is laid out on the wood, ready to be turned, once
again by hand, on a treadle lathe. The uprights will then be cut, drilled and fitted.
The stand is finished in a natural, durable, matt oil and the base is baized.

THE SHADE

For the smaller lamps liquid porcelain clay is hand cast in a plaster mould to
create a fine honeycomb shade.
Then the porcelain is glazed on the inside and fired at the studio to 1280 deg C to
create a strong and durable, yet light and translucent material.

For the larger shades porcelain clay is thrown on the potters wheel to make the form,
before once again being glazed internally and fired in the studio.
The hand of the maker can be seen in the ‘throwing rings’ ; thinner areas which
are more translucent. The outside of the shade is hand sanded for a smooth finish.

THE LAMP

Finally the lamp stands are pinned using solid copper rod and then wired using the
customer’s choice of either red, blue, green, silver or black braid cord.
The porcelain shades are added and the lamp is ready.

The small lamp has a 7” base and it’s upright is 17” high. It has a hand cast
shade, which accepts a small B22 bulb. Priced at £195
The Larger lamp has a 9” base and it’s upright is 21” high. It has a hand thrown
shade, which accepts a small B22 bulb. Priced at £225

The pendant lamp has a hand thrown shade, which is 6” in diameter and 5” tall
and accepts a B22 bulb. It comes with 5m of braided cord and 3-pin plug. Priced
at £95
All lamps have the choice of blue, green, red, black or silver braided cords.