The iconic depiction of the halo in Romanesque art served as the visual origin point for the Mother Mary Sconce. Designer Jake Oliveira set out to create a luminaire that would honour a mother’s protective, enveloping embrace of her child. This imagery was interpreted as a marriage between two pure and simple silhouettes which draw attention to the interplay of light and shadow. The first stand-out feature of the piece is it’s composition, which consists of an ethereal resin bulb that seems to float effortlessly within the shade.
The immaculate fusion of both elements was the result of endless hours of engineering and iteration, utilizing 3D printed and polyurethane tools. The final solution established an angled shade with an architectural overhang that breaks the line of sight, hiding all fastening from any vantage point.
Since contrast was such an essential ingredient in the Mother Mary Sconce’s makeup, careful material selection and the union between the chosen materials was paramount. The shade is fabricated from porous sand-cast metal, specifically brass, bronze, or aluminum. Sand-casting is a forgery technique that has been used since 704 BC, it has a human aesthetic and it’s random, natural finish carries the story of the hands that made it. This is paired with a sleek resin bulb which is poured via the modern technique of silicone slip-casting. A highly refined, polished lip on the shade’s edge helps to coalesce the pitted nature of the metal with the sculptural smooth bulb.
The Mother Mary Sconce is ADA compliant and can be cast in brass, bronze, and aluminum, with the option of oxidation. The organic nature of this artful product means that it will only get better with age as natural patination occurs. The resin bulb can be cast in any of Powell & Bonnell’s resin colours, allowing for a dynamic pop of colour.
