When devising the Jewel Block collection, Rosie Li Studio took inspiration from a variety of sources — early 20th-century pressed glass architectural tiles, vintage railway signal lights and crystalline formations. Five years in development, the new lighting series signals a material departure for the Brooklyn-based design studio.
Drawing from both historical and geological references, the Jewel Block collection has a prismatic radiance that alters and illuminates interiors. Also nodding to pre-Columbian temples, the forms effortlessly balance the modern with the ancient and reimagine ribbed Fresnel lenses as a modular system of cubic shapes.
The individual elements in the Jewel Block collection have an art deco expression, one that is enhanced by three custom pressed-glass lenses and brass castings; together, the materials recall intricate gemstone settings.
Similar to the construction of ancient temples, the lenses of the Jewel Block lights have a pyramidal design that steps down like a terrace with levels that recede, lending the fixtures dimension and depth. Appearing translucent blue when off, the textured glass emits a lovely amber glow when illuminated, the lenses interlocked to create stellated structures that “bend and scatter light in rhythmic, prismatic ways.”
The Jewel Block collection by Rosie Li Studio includes three wall-mounted sconces, one ceiling flushmount, two pendants, a table lamp, a floor lamp and two linear chandeliers.
With either one, two or three pressed-glass block squares, the wall sconces are encased by slender metal frames, while the ceiling flushmount features multiple metal-framed squares that are linked together to form an oversized gem-like structure with distinct side tiles contrasting the ziggurat-shaped lower ones.
Suspended from a slim necklace-inspired chain, the Jewel Block pendants have a distinct architectural silhouette and compelling dimension, appearing like an exquisite piece of jewelry. The two linear chandeliers are elegant in composition, with either one or two capsule-shaped diffusers comprised of multiple pressed-glass blocks.
Diminutive yet impactful, the Jewel Block table lamp places the faceted opal glass tiles on a sleek metal base with softly rounded corners, and the totem-like floor lamp assembles blocks of varying size atop each other.
The metal frames for each fixture in the Jewel Block collection by Rosie Li Studio (available at a number of stockists worldwide and online through Lumens) are available in two powder-coated colours — Cool Gray and Cream — and three metallic finishes — Polished Brass, Polished Nickel and Satin Brass.
