Sculpture by Skip Dyrda
Steampunk Tablelamp
This table lamp grew out of a playful experiment with ordinary waterpipe fittings, which I assembled into a small robot-like figure. Once the form was built and everything wired, I painted the entire piece to resemble aged bronze, giving it the weight and presence of a metal sculpture. The robot holds a glowing “light sabre,” and its head also illuminates, turning the figure itself into part of the lamp’s function. It stands on a base textured and painted to look like layered sheets of metal, grounding the piece with an industrial feel. It’s a whimsical mix of sculpture and utility, and one of those projects that started as an idea and quickly took on a personality of its own.
Detail Images
He’s actually almost done here…well…sort of almost done. I used PVC pipe instead of iron pipe to keep the costs down, but either one would work. Wiring this dude was a challenge as well. There’s a toggle switch in the back that turns the two bulbs on an off.
OK…here he is really almost finished since I just started painting the finish. At this point I hadn’t yet completed the base.