Umbra
Product
Tea Light
Industry
Housewares
Year
2024
A tea light holder made from reclaimed expanded steel scraps and salvaged Richlite, casting a gentle, playful illumination through repurposed materials. Fabricated then sold at a local design boutique.
Giving New Life to Scrap Material
The goal was to transform items of industrial and consumer waste into viable commercial products. For Umbra I sourced flat expanded steel sheet, and Richlite — a composite material made from recycled paper and phenolic resin.
Light Studies
A series of physical studies explored diameter, height, and the balance between the steel structure and Richlite base. These iterations helped establish the final proportions and relationship between material and light.
Fabrication
Richlite was turned and milled into cylindrical components, while expanded steel was rolled and welded into the outer structure. The steel was then powdercoated and a protective oil finish was applied to the richlite base before final assembly.
Finished Product
The final form pairs the raw texture of expanded steel with the warmth and weight of Richlite. The simple construction lets the material and candlelight define the character of the object.
Retail
The final tea lights were produced in a small batch and sold through a local design boutique. The project took the design from reclaimed material to a finished product in the real world.
