Hello all,
I am new to AT and very excited about being here! I have seen a really expensive chandelier in a couple of magazines and even on a design show, and finally have found it online.
My question is has anyone seen one similar but way cheaper? Or any creative types out there that can think of a way to reproduce a version of it.
Hope to hear some ideas!
- mcr in sf
Dear mcr,
You came knocking at the right door, if ony to have your good taste validated! We've been lusting after the Zettel'z for a long time. This light sculpture by famed German lighting designer Ingo Maurer is (in our opinion) his best piece, and he's been at this for a long time.
We've seen Zettel'z up close, and here's how it's made: each piece of paper is held by a clip, and each clip attaches to a stainless steel wire arm, and each wire arm attaches to a metal spindle tube. The electrical components live in the tube, and if we recall correctly, there are multiple bulbs hovering inside the paper cloud.
Like a vase of flowers, you arrange the wires and the flying sheets of paper yourself -- or, if you purchase this directly from the Ingo Maurer showroom, they actually send an associate to set it up and arrange it for you.
We think this construction would be hard to replicate without access to a machinist, but you might be able to create a similar paper-cloud effect by clustering a few of Kikkerland's $7.95 Satellite Hanging Photo Holders and attaching them to an existing pendulum light that you've stripped of decorative elements.
Any crafty types out there with other ideas?
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
I'm usually one who tries to do things on my own, given the cost of many items and the fact that I've done art of one kind or another for years. However, I studied this when I first saw it and my opinion is that doing this one on one's own would be difficult.
Ordinarily I think DWR is overpriced on certain things, but this piece is incredible. It reminds me of a Calder mobile. While it looks simple and relaxed, its all about balance. As creative as I am, I'd almost rather pay the price on this one. It's quite beautiful. Even though its constructed of paper and clips, getting the balance and flow correct would be the issue for me and it wouldn't look this wonderful. Reading how it was made almost justifies the cost for me. "Tain't easy". Of course, that's just my opinion.
I hope someone shares with AT how to replicate the balance and flow. Making your own sheets of paper is the easy part.
Click on my name for a diy link. I've had this one saved for a little while. He also suggests that it is far more difficult than you would think and maybe the DWR is worth the price.
I used the real deal on a job - it was beautiful in person. Some of it was paper, but parts were etched glass, from what I remember, as well. The one I used from a German import. I'm sure you could dup it somehow, but you'd need to really know what you're doing if you're only working with paper...
Amy, I can't wait to click on your name and see what you've done. :)
Holly
Amy,
Okay I just checked out your link - very cool.
Question though, after reading the details re: construction and materials, did you have to actually purchase the original to copy it? It seems as though the only way you could have studied it so well to be able to know how to build it so precisely from scratch would be to actual purchase one.
Holly
Holly - wish I could take credit, but it's not my project, someone else's. I had it bookmarked to study how they actually did it thinking I could try something on a much simpler, smaller scale.
You should check out a real one at a Design Within Reach store if you haven't already. It's an amazing structure. You could make a version out of tiny binder clips and wire with needlenose pliers hung off a pendant (like the ones that go inside those hanging paper globes.) Keep the wattage down- theoretically you're building a fire hazard.
oh my, I thought it would be MUCH EASIER to do that DIY project. Clearly I was wrong. Curses, foiled again.
Thanks for the input, especially Amy with your DIY project. You go girl! It looks really amazing! Now welding I don't do, but crafting I do. But I think I should leave this to the professionals. I may just throw down the cash for the real thing. It is priceless and beautiful. M
What ever happened to using that as a starting point for inspiration instead of copying it? Have all the ideas in the world been used and you need to steal it? It is stealing it you know.
It's not stealing if you put all that effort into creating one. If you take one from the store without paying for it, that's stealing. And anyway, I don't think $1200 is too crazy for a piece like that. All the chandeliers I want cost twice that much. :(
I've also thought about trying to use some of the OXO Designs photo mobiles (in addition to trying the satellite photo holder mentioned above) to do my own take on the Ingo Mauer light.
http://fototiller.com/blog/2006/07/06/photo-mobiles/
That is probably the ugliest light I have ever seen - I really cannot fathom the point of it at all or why people would want to copy it - it looks like the christmas candle holder they used to make every year on Blue Peter from two wire coat hangers - fugly!
I hesitate to denigrate another designer's work, but in this case I believe we have a cream-puff example of the "Emporer's New Clothes".
$1279.00 for a Post-It Note lamp is beyond the absurd. The only thing that surpasses this lunacy is one's desire to actually purchase it.
Hey- if someone loves it so much, by all means, make one yourself. Consider it a day camp project.
I really like Ingo Maurer's work but I can't justify spending that much money on a light...but if I had it to spend I would! Has anyone seen any "knock-offs" of Savoie? I think it's just so cute!
http://www.formplusfunction.com/3446.htm
This is so funny--I've been fantasizing for years about making my own birds, birds, birds--http://www.formplusfunction.com/3438.htm--another Ingo Mauer creation that probably looks much easier to recreate than it is. Anyone ever tried to make at least the one-"bird" lamp? (look at the "additional images" with the blue background) http://www.unicahome.com/catalog/item.asp?id=9502
Dear ValerieNYC,
This design (birds, birds) is one of Maurer's most inspiring, as it certainly exsists as his most lyrical and transcendant design to date.
I would imagine that recreating it would not be very easy. But Good luck and be well. Art Donovan