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For the past year and seven months, I have been working on a series of light fixtures for a 16,000 sq. ft. residence in south central Illinois.  The ginkgo tree was incorporated into the design; a reflection of Philip and Nina's time spent in Japan. There are six chandeliers installed in the great room, each measuring approximately 12 ft. tall with the "branches" and lights spanning 2 ft. wide by 5 ft. long. A smaller version, the first one we built, is located in the stairwell. Each tree has over 300 leaves that were water jet cut from nine template sizes. The veining, forming, and cleaning of all 2400 leaves were done by hand. Each chandelier features nine pair of ginkgo nuts, made from iron, to help tie in with the six pair of illuminated ginkgo nuts.  The accent lighting "the nuts" and the main light below are wired separately to offer a variety of full strength and dimming light atmospheres. My good friend Dan Broten, the photographer of The Backyard Blacksmith, came down to visit and document the installation of the final three fixtures. Here are some images for you to enjoy.   Each chandelier is split into two six foot sections.       Each chandelier incorporates two types of light bulbs.  The bowl is illuminated with standard bulbs and bi-pin bulbs are intertwined among the foliage. Glass amber nuts encompass each bi-pin - mimicking the "stink bomb" fruits found on female ginkgo trees.   This commission would not have been successful without the assistance and support of my friends and family and the Martins. Thank You.

 

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