Light in Coils

Sometimes I like to mix new materials with stained glass. Few years ago I got a handful of ammonites. It happens sometimes that you get something and only after that you have actual idea what you want to do with that. Ammonites were so pretty and definitely had a potential for something. I started to work with them, cleaned their back side and saw how light goes through segments. The idea came to expose a full spiral and make a lamp with that.

Now, let me explain, what is ammonites.

There were squid-like critters that used to live in shallow seas during dinosaur time. They had spiral-like shells, some reaching three feet in diameter. Ammonites become extinct 65,000,000 years ago and their empty shells got penetrated with surrounding minerals, some translucent like calcite. That was creation of the beauty but turned out to be a big challenge for me.

Calcite is very soft mineral and it is easy to destroy it by heat that can be a big problem when you try to solder pieces together. Because of that many Geologists and Gemologists doomed my idea to use ammonites with stained glass. I kept trying and faced few more problems soon; it is not enough to create a thin slice out of ammonite, you need to grind it until spiral is fully exposed.

But each of them consists of segments and as thinner it gets, so easier it will fall apart. Calcite is very fragile by itself too. Another word, preparing them turned out to be quite a experience. The biggest surprise was waiting me at the end. That lamp on the left, I almost ruined it by chemicals that are used in process. Acids and such can "eat" ammonites up. This lantern consists of three 5-by-10 inches panels, it is not big but I gained a lot of experience working with it that proved useful when I was working with my new lamp.

It didn't start as a wall lamp but by the time when panels were ready it seemed as a perfect idea. It is approximately 11"-by-12" and will make any room to look cozy.