Encore Table Lamp
Should a lamp simply be a source of light or can it be an object that evokes an emotion? This is the question Industrial Designer Sam Gwilt has tried to answer with Encore Table Lamp. The lamp is his second design for Gantri, a revolutionary lighting marketplace. Gwilt’s first design for Gantri explored the concept of mass, playing with how objects can be made to appear heavy or light. Named Weight, the design consisted of a spherical light resting on a cylindrical base. Deliberate deformation curves on the base made it look as though the ball of light had fallen on it and crushed it, giving it a playful appearance.
With Encore, Gwilt took a different direction. The lamp and its name are inspired by the theater, and more specifically, the curtains of the theatre. He tried to capture the feelings that arise before the curtain is raised - anticipation, excitement and suspense. To achieve this, Gwilt designed the shade of the lamp like a curtain. The shade is attached to a large, cylindrical pillar-like base. The wave pattern on the shade becomes more pronounced towards the bottom, resembling the pleats of stage curtains. The effect is soft, yet dramatic. The material finish of the lamp is matte and soft to the touch, in harmony with the light emerging through the double diffuser. Turn on the switch and the light shines through the diffuser softly towards the top and bottom. The design is elegant and aesthetically pleasing and immediately catches the eye, without being imposing in an interior. With a design style that can only be described as retro modern, the Encore Table Light is a well balanced piece of art that hints at its theatrical abilities to play with mood and lighting.
Sam Gwilt designed the lamp to be 3D printed using Gantri Plant Polymer (GPP), a unique material developed by Gantri and colorFabb. The material is derived from sugar crops, and is a better and cleaner alternative to plastic. The sustainable material gives Encore a beautiful look, and even better environmental credentials. The lamp is made available through Gantri in three colors - Stone, Coral and Canyon. In stone, the white rippled surface of the lampshade looks calming. It is neutral and easy to introduce into any setting. Coral is soft in appearance, with the pastel pink adding a lively quality to the lamp. Canyon is the most dramatic of them all. The deep red shade of the lamp turns it into a statement piece. The red is earthy and beautiful, and is bound to make it an item of conversation. Whichever shade you choose, you can’t go wrong with the Encore lamp. And just like a wonderful performance, you’d be excited for the encore.