The LED lighting objects 76 by Bocci are made of blown glass and copper wire to create an innovative design resulting from an elaborate manufacturing process. Beside a wall lamp, the collection comprises mainly suspensions with diverse suspension systems and a variable number of diffusers. Designed by Omer Arbel.
The glass body of 76 is a ball of clear glass, in which spooky, thin, white threads are extended. When looking at them with more accuracy, they are visibly connected with a metallic net. Grid-like, yet organic and unpredictable, they lend the small light heads a strong presence and filter their light.
The particular effect results from the elaborate process that was perfected over many years by making hundreds of experiments. For this purpose, the ball is blown of clear glass and flattened with heat and pressure on one side. This surface is pressed on a layer of liquid, white glass with a net of copper wire to separate both glass layers. When the glass blower inspires, he creates a void inside the ball and the liquid layered glass bulges inside the ball. Because of the wire net, the white glass cannot extend evenly, but passes as thin threads through the mesh.
The small LED lamp that emphasizes the ball´s inside with atmospherical light is placed through the blowing hole. The discreet flat structure is attached to the flat side. The suspension is placed decentrally and the ball is suspended in slightly oblique position. The lamp cable runs in a bow between structure and LED, a cheerful detail that stresses the light´s experimental character.
The finished light body testifies of a innovative manufacturing by hand with individual details and small imperfections. The edges of the copper net stick out irregularly from the glass. During the manufacturing process, it undergoes an intense heat and oxydizes. It is possible that small edges come off and are included in the glass as sediment. This can be observed as part of the natural aging process of the 76 lighting objects and turns every piece into a unique piece.
On request, the suspensions are available with up to 36 glass balls. It must be noted that if there are more than seven balls, the cables lengths cannot be adapted by the user, but must be determined by Bocci. When ordering, the longest and the shortest desired cable lengths must be mentioned. The standard cable length is of maximum 3 meters. Special cable lengths of up to 30 meters are also possible.
The soft atmospherical light of 76 is not strong enough to illuminate a whole room. It emphasizes above all the small details of the glass balls and turns the lighting objects into an expressive eyecatcher. Especially the multiple suspensions have the appearance of lively light clouds, reinforced by the diffusers´ oblique position and their individual, non-duplicable details.