Fire generally has the effect of destroying wood. But when wood is deliberately exposed to fire, the exact opposite occurs. This is the case with the yakisugi method, a traditional Japanese art of wood finishing in which the wood is carbonized, thereby preserving it for many decades. Flamed wood is also a real eye-catcher, and the Brandenburg-based lighting manufacturer Gantlights is now using it to enhance its C Series.
There are various methods for making wood durable. Most wood is varnished, glazed or oiled. The thermal type of preservation, in which the wood is carbonized, is a very special variant: The temperature-intensive treatment of the wood surface causes the cellulose to caramelize and carbonize, wood cells are sealed and underlying layers are protected from damaging influences in a natural way.
The Yakisugi method is therefore an extremely ecological and economical technique that also develops outstanding aesthetics: Carbonized wood impresses with its deep black color and thus offers an exciting contrast to light, minimalist furnishing concepts.
Exciting material contrast above the dining table: black-flamed wood and light-colored concrete combined in one luminaire
Flame-treated wood is now widely used in architecture, but it is still relatively new in the product sector. The lighting manufacturer Gantlights has added “Burned Wood” as a new variant to its C Series—a lighting series that combines a delicate design with striking material contrasts to create a distinctive presence. Flame-treated wood is one of eleven material options for the lampshade, which can be individually combined with light or dark concrete, or with oak and walnut for the lamp body.
“My designs work a lot with materials that are more familiar from architecture. However, a burnt wooden surface has so much structure and subtlety that it comes out much better in the product design and more details are recognizable than on a large façade,” explains architect and product designer Stefan Gant. “I find it particularly exciting that the surface appears extremely fragile, but the opposite is the case: the fire treatment makes the wood more resistant to moisture, fungi and UV radiation, for example.”
Both the air pockets in the concrete and the unique fiber structures in the wood give the luminaire an unmistakable appearance.
The C Series offers extensive customization options: available in lengths of 92, 122, 153, and 182 centimeters, and the materials—such as concrete, oxidized copper, oak, walnut, and, new to the line, flamed wood—for the lamp body and shade can be freely combined. Cable color and length can also be customized. The pendant light also offers the option to conveniently adjust the light using Touch-Dim: gently touching the steel cables dims or brightens the light.
Like all Gantlights fixtures, the C Series is precision-crafted by hand through a series of meticulous individual steps. All wood used comes from FSC-certified forests. The C Series is shipped 90% plastic-free; all other lamps come in 100% plastic-free packaging. The Burned Wood version of the C Series is priced between 799 and 1,999 euros. It can be easily designed and ordered using an online configurator at www.gantlights.com.
Another new addition to the C series is the walnut lamp body. The combination with flamed wood creates a pleasantly warm look with minimalist lines.
Burned Wood – Decorative lamp made of Japanese-style flamed wood
Fire generally has the effect of destroying wood. But when wood is deliberately exposed to fire, the exact opposite occurs. This is the case with the yakisugi method, a traditional Japanese art of wood finishing in which the wood is carbonized, thereby preserving it for many decades. Flamed wood is also a real eye-catcher, and the Brandenburg-based lighting manufacturer Gantlights is now using it to enhance its C Series.
There are various methods for making wood durable. Most wood is varnished, glazed or oiled. The thermal type of preservation, in which the wood is carbonized, is a very special variant: The temperature-intensive treatment of the wood surface causes the cellulose to caramelize and carbonize, wood cells are sealed and underlying layers are protected from damaging influences in a natural way.
The Yakisugi method is therefore an extremely ecological and economical technique that also develops outstanding aesthetics: Carbonized wood impresses with its deep black color and thus offers an exciting contrast to light, minimalist furnishing concepts.
Exciting material contrast above the dining table: black-flamed wood and light-colored concrete combined in one luminaire
Flame-treated wood is now widely used in architecture, but it is still relatively new in the product sector. The lighting manufacturer Gantlights has added “Burned Wood” as a new variant to its C Series—a lighting series that combines a delicate design with striking material contrasts to create a distinctive presence. Flame-treated wood is one of eleven material options for the lampshade, which can be individually combined with light or dark concrete, or with oak and walnut for the lamp body.
“My designs work a lot with materials that are more familiar from architecture. However, a burnt wooden surface has so much structure and subtlety that it comes out much better in the product design and more details are recognizable than on a large façade,” explains architect and product designer Stefan Gant. “I find it particularly exciting that the surface appears extremely fragile, but the opposite is the case: the fire treatment makes the wood more resistant to moisture, fungi and UV radiation, for example.”
Both the air pockets in the concrete and the unique fiber structures in the wood give the luminaire an unmistakable appearance.
The C Series offers extensive customization options: available in lengths of 92, 122, 153, and 182 centimeters, and the materials—such as concrete, oxidized copper, oak, walnut, and, new to the line, flamed wood—for the lamp body and shade can be freely combined. Cable color and length can also be customized. The pendant light also offers the option to conveniently adjust the light using Touch-Dim: gently touching the steel cables dims or brightens the light.
Like all Gantlights fixtures, the C Series is precision-crafted by hand through a series of meticulous individual steps. All wood used comes from FSC-certified forests. The C Series is shipped 90% plastic-free; all other lamps come in 100% plastic-free packaging. The Burned Wood version of the C Series is priced between 799 and 1,999 euros. It can be easily designed and ordered using an online configurator at www.gantlights.com.