Bamboo Chandelier

Bamboo can be used to create simple, drum-shaped shades for hanging chandelier lights. These can range for a single drum shape, rather like a snare or kettle drum to more complex designs such as three cylindrical “drums” in graduated sizes, with the largest hung at the top and the smaller ones in successively smaller sizes hung below it. Three “drums” is a classic design of the latter sort, but they can also be arranged in spirals or in offset star patterns.

Another frequently used option is to use bamboo to make an openwork frame for a metal chandelier arrangement. The bamboo is cut into small lengths and wired together to create an elegant framework for designer light bulbs, such as those that imitate candle flames. The bamboo frame is then gilded with metallic paint to simulate gold or silver ornamentation that matches the metal used to house the wiring and the bulb holders.

Bamboo can be used as a framework for other kinds of materials, as well. Silk is an ever-popular choice for lamp shades of any kind because the fine fabric can easily be woven into a translucent covering that diffuses light with a minimal reduction of illumination. Furthermore, the silk can be plain or it can have patterns woven in or be adorned with embroidery, paint or even small gems.

Young bamboo can be pre-bent into shapes, allowing it to easily be formed into spheres. These can be plain spokes of natural bamboo, slabs of cut bamboo, or even bamboo withies that are threaded through beads or other decorations. They can be sparse, simple suggestions of a sphere or they can be dense or even woven over to create a thicker shade.

Bamboo can also be formed into what in the art world are known as organic shapes which are shapes that do not conform to geometric dictates. As with most such artwork, there is no real limit to how the forms are configured. They can resemble clouds, driftwood, branching trees and more.