Whimsical Wood Chandeliers Resemble Giant Pencil Shavings

Wood Chandeliers That Look Like Pencil Shavings by Nanako Kume

We don't usually think of pencil shavings as final works of art. But one artist has elevated the humble wooden remnants into creative light fixtures that curl from your ceiling. Based in Japan, Nanako Kume has created a line of chandeliers that resemble giant pencil shavings.

Each piece is executed with precise and minimalist craftsmanship. In most cases, a single wooden shaving compromises the entire design—wrapping around the light source and extending further down in mesmerizing loops. Not only do these sculptural works echo a playful nostalgia for drawing with colored pencils, but they also remark on the beauty of something that is normally tossed away.

“From an early age, I was fascinated by the shape and transience of the shavings produced when sharpening pencils,” Kume tells My Modern Met. “Since it was small and fragile, I thought that I had no choice but to throw it away. However, I could create new value while preserving the beauty of the form by enlarging them.”
To ensure that her lifesize works would resemble the original inspiration, Kume uses a custom large-scale sharpener, which is made in the same way as a normal pencil sharpener. “The details of the shade change depending on the species, colors, and profiles of the woods, and no two pieces are the same.”

You can keep up to date with Kume's latest projects by following the artist on Instagram.

Artist Nanako Kume created a unique wood chandelier inspired by pencil shavings.

Wood Chandeliers That Look Like Pencil Shavings by Nanako KumeWood Chandeliers That Look Like Pencil Shavings by Nanako Kume

Each pendant light looks like a giant wooden shaving from a pencil.

Wood Chandeliers That Look Like Pencil Shavings by Nanako KumeWood Chandeliers That Look Like Pencil Shavings by Nanako Kume

Kume creates these light fixtures with a custom large-scale pencil sharpener.

Wood Chandeliers That Look Like Pencil Shavings by Nanako KumeWood Chandeliers That Look Like Pencil Shavings by Nanako KumeWood Chandeliers That Look Like Pencil Shavings by Nanako KumeNanako Kume: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nanako Kume.

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Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and illustrator based in Southern California. She holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Wofford College, and an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University in the UK. She wrote and illustrated an instructional art book about how to draw cartoons titled 'Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square' that was published by Walter Foster in 2022.
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