Seriously cool lighting

February 9, 2007 5:12 AM

The steampunky lighting designs of Frank Buchwald. Courtesy of the ever-delightful Tinkergirl at Brass Goggles (alerted by Mr Pfeifer, Mr Lemieux and Mr Hildebrandt), prepared to be awed by Frank Buchwald's skill and imagination. Release your inner mad scientist. See how he makes them from steel and brass and glass. My favourite may well be this one. (It's all in German, but that's no problem, right? Just look at the pictures like I did.)
posted by No Mutant Enemy (18 comments total)

these have great style. beautiful.
if they were available for purchase it'd be worth running a 240V line from my breaker box to use one.

thanks for showing me my current lampage inadequacy...
posted by Busithoth at 5:41 AM on February 9, 2007

Gorgeous. Wow. Bet they cost a bazillion dollars each though...
posted by Skygazer at 5:46 AM on February 9, 2007

That's 10 kinds of awesome.
posted by empath at 6:17 AM on February 9, 2007

A steal at only $0.1 Bazillion per kind of awesome!
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:17 AM on February 9, 2007

(They are pretty damn cool, though.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:18 AM on February 9, 2007

What has me mystified is where he finds those bulbs.

I've been looking at Kilokat's Antique Light Bulb Site and I can't find any bulbs like the ones he's using.

I also have to wonder about (and fear) the price.
posted by mjbraun at 7:18 AM on February 9, 2007

mjbraun: "What has me mystified is where he finds those bulbs.
I've been looking at Kilokat's Antique Light Bulb Site and I can't find any bulbs like the ones he's using. "

The bulbs themselves seem uncommon, but not completely unique: they're just relatively standard "nostalgic" replacements and are still in production today. Large department stores often sell them, although I've seen them most often used in upper class hotels or restaurants to provide mood lighting.

Those lamps on the other hand make me drool...
posted by PontifexPrimus at 7:56 AM on February 9, 2007

Must have. That one is calling my name. How come there's so much cool stuff in the world but you can never buy it? And if it is for sale, it's a gillion dollars. Dr. J.J. Woodward's Microscope, manufactured by Joseph Zentmayer, for example. These items would go so well together. If only they (or equally well-crafted copies) could be purchased.
posted by cashman at 8:05 AM on February 9, 2007

Want.
posted by Skorgu at 8:12 AM on February 9, 2007

I love them all and want many of them but I especially want this one for my desk.
posted by effwerd at 8:46 AM on February 9, 2007

Very nice — the brass and black (enameled?) metal set each other off well.

19th Century gas lighting has some intriguing design possibilities. Imagine hydrogen-fueled gas lamps lighting the interior of an appropriate spaceship.
posted by cenoxo at 9:24 AM on February 9, 2007

Pretty damn awesome. I'm worried, though, that BoingBoing has forever ruined the concept of steampunk for me...
posted by hifiparasol at 10:37 AM on February 9, 2007

Those lamps give me happy pants.
posted by lekvar at 10:52 AM on February 9, 2007

I'm with effwerd, I want #09.

But where is number eight? I have to believe that it's a light that is so freakishly cool that the mere sight of it would drive the average person insane.

A deus ex lumin as it were.
posted by quin at 11:10 AM on February 9, 2007

If I ever bought one of these, I'd want to decorate my whole living space around it.
posted by bashos_frog at 3:02 PM on February 9, 2007

They're like props from the Frankenstein set...
posted by toma at 4:12 PM on February 9, 2007

They're $4800. A piece.

Separately, the guy (or his minions) emailed with 3 sketches and said they'd get back to me about prices and construction details, etc, saying he was suprised and happy with the numerous inquiries he received.
posted by cashman at 1:20 PM on February 10, 2007

They're $4800. A piece.

ARRRGGHHH!!!

*Commits faux Harikari*
posted by Skygazer at 9:55 AM on February 11, 2007