Attiq Ahmed · CLIENT: Turning Tables
Artemis is a floor lamp made of burnt wood and metal. The lamp has a vertically articulated form that rises from a weighted base for stability. The charred wood finish is produced with the Shou Sugi Ban burning technique, which improves durability and reveals the grain and depth of the material. A trileaf-shaped shade diffuses the light evenly, and a simple on-off switch controls the lamp. The form is drawn from the finials that crown domes in Mughal architecture. The lamp measures 72 inches in height and 22 inches in diameter.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Artemis Floor Lamp is a sculptural lighting piece crafted from burnt wood and metal, defined by a vertically articulated form and a weighted, grounded base. The charred wood finish enhances durability while revealing material depth and texture. A trileaf-shaped lampshade softens and diffuses light evenly, while the restrained geometry balances craft and precision, allowing the lamp to function as both an ambient light source and a standalone object of design integrity.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Height 72”
Diameter 22” - Tags
- Artemis, burntwood, charred wood, Shisham, floor lamp, Sculptural lighting, Craft As Inquiry, Material poetry, contemporary craft, Pakistani design, modern craft, design as process, hand made design
- Production Technology
- Materials:
Indian Rose Wood
Metal
Techniques:
Wood lathe turning
Shou Sugi Ban (Japanese wood burning) - Design Challenge
- The primary challenge was achieving a precise balance between proportion and stability within a slender vertical form. Referencing historical Mughal finials required careful scaling to avoid literal replication while maintaining visual hierarchy. Structurally, the lamp demanded a weighted base and refined transitions to ensure stability without compromising elegance, requiring multiple iterations to align form, balance, and functional performance.
- Project Duration
- The project commenced in September 2025 and progressed through both design development and fabrication over an estimated period of 20–24 days. Fabrication was completed in October 2025, culminating in a fully realized prototype that reflects the intended design intent and material exploration
- Operation Flow
- The lamp is operated by a simple on-off switch, allowing light to gently diffuse through the shade while the sculpted base remains visually stable. Its tall, balanced form guides the eye upward, creating a calm presence in a room. The layered base ensures stability, while the dark finish reduces visual clutter, helping the light feel warmer and more focused in everyday use.
- Research
- The research was exploratory and practice-based, aiming to translate architectural heritage into a functional object. The objective was to study proportion, balance, and symbolic form. The methodology involved visual study, sketching, and material trials. Tools included drawings, scale mock-ups, and prototypes. The process was designer-led. Results refined stability and form. Insights showed heritage can inform contemporary design, impacting craft practice and product identity.
- Inspiration
- The design draws inspiration from Mughal architecture, specifically the finials crowning domes, studied for their proportions, vertical hierarchy, and symbolic grounding. The project translates these historic forms into a contemporary object through material experimentation with burnt wood and metal, using controlled charring to enhance durability while retaining a clear architectural lineage and crafted precision.
- Image Credits
- Muhammad Ibrahim Butt
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