Crucible Lamp

Looks can be deceiving, and deceiving can be involved. Unlike most of the lamps that I build, this project had its origin in a lightbulb that I wanted to use. I picked up an LED spot light, when I was buying bulbs for another project, because it was on sale. Being rather specific, it sat in my inventory for a long time waiting for the right lamp to call home. As is often the case with materials I collect, I got tired of looking at it and so set out to use it up. I took six espresso grinder burrs to make a cage for the bulb and pull-chain activated socket and then hung it from some empty CO2 cartridges attached to a section of square bike-lock chain that I picked up off the street in NYC. I welded the chain to an alternator bracket from an old Jeep engine, and made feet from a set of chair tilt tensioners that I had lying around that are balanced by a third foot made from another two espresso burrs. I then added the reflector from a flashlight, and as a joke I screwed the tiny light bulb from that flashlight into the reflector and found the finishing touch. Because the spotlight shines directly on the flashlight bulb, it appears as if the light is all coming from that tiny bulb, and that the chain is carrying a small crucible of molten light.