apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Get some thin-gauge wire and make your own!

Get crafty and make your own!

You could also buy a wire bird cage from somewhere like petsco. I've not seen on shaped like this but there are a whole bunch of other architectural styles available and the wire it.

Check out Alexander Calder's wire works for inspiration. (A google image search brings up a bunch) There was an exhibit at the Whitney last year that was amazing. I remember using something called bailing wire in college to make wire sculptures. Don't remember where we found it. I think it is a typical farm supply.

The creator is PASCALE PALUN

Her website:
http://voxpopuli-deco.com/index.htm

Image of same house light:
http://trouvais.com/2009/07/17/little-dramas/

More here:
http://ullam.typepad.com/ullabenulla/2006/05/french_wire_fan.html

It's expensive because:

Pascal and her husband Bruno have been collecting items from Frances rich tradition of brocantes (flee markets really) and have translated their collection of discards into a world of fantasy and old/new beauty and transporting visual dreamlike richness. Pascale invited us to tour their atelier on the second floor of a funky aged flat in Avignon center. She explained that she sells custom pieces to Anthropologie for use in their retail store displays. The work they do is really more of a world, an environment, a state of mind, than a work. The entire atelier was full with assemblages and wire-drawn scenes, hanging lamps, re-purposed film negatives, and on and on.

From:
http://miriellografico.com/mg/weblog/2009/05/13/discovering-vox-populi-in-avignon-france/

To this day I still squirrel away money or establish some kind of payment plan in order to purchase a well designed and crafted piece of furniture, lighting or artwork. It's not always about getting something similar for cheap.

Seaside, I'm glad that design means so much to you and you are willing to work to support true artistry, but sometimes people want art and beauty in their life but cannot make the same time or financial commitment. It does not make them any less deserving of it.

Are you familiar with Wardian Cases? They come in a wide variety of architectural styles and sizes. Some have stands as well. You might want to consider wiring a large-ish size one.

A quick google search came up with this as an example, but there are many places that sell them: http://www.ironaccents.com/wardian-case-terrarium.html

Good luck.

I love Anthropologie ... but usually I am sadly limited to buying from the sale room (typically crowded with similar situated people) or buying small items. I think their dishware and glasses are very reasonably priced, probably because the dishware are knockoffs of folk-inspired pieces, mass-produced in China. The various wine glasses are really special, and reasonably priced for the quality. I think they are produced from reinvigorated factories in Eastern Europe, and I happily buy sets of four for wedding presents.

I am in awe of the prices in the lighting offerings, and also of the prices of the upholstered pieces. But if the lighting is being made by an artisan who lives in an expensive developed country like France, well, everyone deserves to eat.

Just this week I bought a flowery hair clip and two ceramic coasters featuring bluebirds from Anthropologie. Extravagant? Probably, but could have been worse. Unnecessary, certainly, but the small purchases were like buying flowers -- they brought joy to my life.

De Beaux Souvenirs on Etsy: Debeauxsouvenirs.etsy.com

Her items are beautiful...

Now, for the ideas.

Topiary forms/frames:

http://www.sktopiary.com/topiary.html

http://www.gandgwebstore.com/product.php?pid=wf_44
(check out the mannequin category, quite a few would lend themselves to a terrific lamp)

Wire finials or urns:
http://www.greatroomsdecor.com/Decorative-Finials-s/38.htm

Uttermost makes some great stuff, here's a finial that would make for a great light:
http://www.uttermost.com/product_line.aspx?category=-20188&parent=-20088

These small items may give you an idea why the large lamp is so expensive, it's a lot of work:
http://www.angelantics.net/angel_flakes.html

I'd be tempted to dress the full-size mannequin frames, just to enjoy the color through the fabric:
http://www.amazon.com/Wire-Mannequin-Decorative-Dress-Form/dp/B000OS63YK

This has a lot of scroll:
http://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Black-Iron-Dress-Mannequin/dp/B0012DXOUC/ref=pd_sim_dbs_k_3

Most of the lamp parts you can pick up at Home Depot.

Number-r-r-r N-i-i-i-ne: Nice post.

A bit off topic, but I used to have birds--tiny finches, and may get some more soon....would this make a dcent bird house, meaning, does anyone else think this type of wire is safe for birds little claws? They fly about constantly--it's not so much about them escaping, which is easy to stop by placing the merest bit of tulle around whatever cage you might use--but I worry about their feet landing on something too scratchy. Is this lamp currently in stores so I can go inspect it? (P.S. I know I'd have to modify it with water dishes, etc. and of course removing the LAMP--but it is so lovey!)

An FYI, Anthropologie has only FOUR of the lamps. That's it. I called and checked. It's not a mass-produced item.

For Finches, some info:
http://www.bird-cage-advisor.com/finch-bird-cage.html

It needs to be big, non-chipping, no lead of course, able to be disinfected, and LARGE.

For a whole lot less you can pick up finch feeders, including sock feeders, thistle seed, and enjoy the beautiful local finches and their songs and antics.

I had the sock feeders for the goldfinches, and they are delightful. Watching the parents teach the babies that this THING is a food source is so funny.

These handmade birdcages could also be used as a lamp (I didn't find them last night):
http://www.coolbirdcages.com/bird_cages.htm

And the large ones would be good for finches:
http://www.coolbirdcages.com/bird_cages_aviary_x_large.htm

I'm no lamp expert, but this style seems like it could be made into a "double" lamp...with a small low-watt tiny bulb located in the colored glass area, and the larger bulb (perhaps a bare frosted globe bulb?) up top:
http://www.coolbirdcages.com/bird_cages_wood_wire_glass.htm

I bet you could use just a regular hanging light kit, which is under $10, if you remove part of the wood on the top and drill a hole, and use it as a hanging lamp.

These could painted to match decor. Would love to see what people do with these ideas, if several people decide to get crafty.