prarie sconce

Design Image: 

This sconce is made from one piece of walnut (the verticle) and one piece of mahogany (the horizontal), and the two pieces are simply glued together. The woods that are used to make this sconce are not primarily important. I have made another, smaller one in all mahogany. The sconce could be made of thick furniture grade plywood as well. What is imporatant is the shape of it which shapes the light it casts. The cuts and fit are thus also important. The horizontal piece, where the actual light bulb is is cut out ovaly (I used a hole saw in my drill press and slightly overlapped the cuts). The edges have a stepped square detail (stacked dato blades in the table saw worked well for me to make those cuts).
I think this sconce could be made much larger. It could be hardwired into a building's electric service too. I think it could fit well in large religious institutions, or into a home - just as well. The sconce can be made different ways, for different places it would go - made large or small, for hardwiring or plug-in use, of plywood or solid wood.
Its light shape is really great though. I made two of these, and at the time I didn't have the light shape in mind, just the object shape, but whenever I have turned on the light, I am warmed with the feeling of having created something with seridipity, and I am proud, and inspired.