Skip to content
Fine Woodworking
Main Menu
Subscribe
GET THE MAGAZINE & MORE
Magazine Cover
  • Save 69% off the cover price
  • Or, get everything with UNLIMITED, including 40+ years of the online archive.
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • Projects & Plans
  • How-To
  • Shop Tips
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Magazine
  • Video Workshops
  • Members
  • Forum
  • Gallery
  • Blogs
  • More
    • Log In
    • Join
    Fine Woodworking Main Menu Subscribe
    Member-Only

    Sign in or become a member to access this story

    Sign In

    Steam-bend a spiral

    Helical legs and a conical shade combine in a beautiful lamp.

    By Jesse Shaw #291-Sep/Oct 2021 Issue
    Article Image

    Synopsis: The twisted legs on Jesse Shaw’s Prometheus lamp are made possible by steam-bending. After steaming the solid-wood legs, a twisting jig is used to bend them all into a helical shape. After they are fully cured, hoops at the top and bottom keep the lamp base in shape.


    I discovered an appreciation for the interplay of wood and light years ago while I was sitting on the steps of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine. As I held a thin shaving of maple burl up to the sun, the grain glowed a rich amber-red hue with thin radiant circles outlining the cellular tubes of the wood. I was mesmerized by this effect. As I sat staring deeper into the grain, the sun continued to elicit previously untapped natural beauty in the raw material. The design for the shade of my Prometheus Lamp grew out of that…

    Sign up for eletters today and get the latest techniques and how-to from Fine Woodworking, plus special offers.

    Sign Up

    Start your 14-day FREE trial to continue reading this story.

    Plus, access more than 1,900 in-depth articles and more when you become a member.

    Start Your Free Trial Now

    Already a member? Log In

    Get woodworking tips, expert advice and special offers in your inbox

    Sign Up
    ×
    X
    X

    New Feature

    Fine Woodworking Forums

    Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

    Get It All!

    UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.

    Start Your Free Trial

    Subscribe to Fine Woodworking

    Save up to 69%

    Subscribe
    Online Membership

    Comments

    1. ReMay | Sep 19, 2021 01:27pm | #1

      How stabile is the lamp?

    Log in or become a member to post a comment.

    Sign up Log in

    Up Next

    Featured Workshop

    a diagram of a round Shaker stand and an image or a round Shaker stand

    Shaker candle stand with Christian Beckvoort

    He’s built dozens of round Shaker stands over four decades, so there is no one more qualified than Christian Becksvoort to demonstrate making this classic. In this seven-part video series,…

    Featured Projects & Plans

    Build a Contemporary Sideboard

    Chris Gochnour's sideboard combines usefulness, strength, and beauty in a contemporary case piece

    Related Stories

    • Torchiere with a twist

    • The best woods for steam-bending

    • How to bend wood to your will

    • How to Make Hexagonal Boxes

    Discussion Forum

    Recent Posts and Replies

    • |
    • |
    • |
    • |
    • |
    • |
    View More Create Post

    Member Exclusives

    More Member Exclusives
    • kerf-bent cabinet

      Kerf-bent wall cabinet

      Philip Morley's small wall cabinet has sides that curve inward at the top, with an asymmetrical arrangement of drawers, door, and open shelves.

    • bending wood

      How to bend wood to your will

      Use steam to create strong, curved parts with continuous grain.

    • Contemporary Stool: Adding Curves and Texture

      Give the stool an elegant look with subtle curves and hand-carved texturing on the legs, then glue it all together with hot hide glue.

    • Creating Stamped Patterns in Wood

      In this video, Tim Coleman shows some of his early stamped-pattern work made entirely with letters, as well as later patterns made of combinations of altered shapes, especially circles, ovals, and crescents.

    Highlights

    • Shape Your Skills

      when you sign up for our emails

      Plus tips, advice, and special offers from Fine Woodworking.

      Sign Up
    • Shop Talk Live Podcast

      Shop Talk Live Podcast

      Our biweekly podcast allows editors, authors, and special guests to answer your woodworking questions and connect with the online woodworking community.

    • Woodpecker Sweepstakes

      Woodpeckers Shop Upgrade Giveaway

      Enter now for your chance to win more than $2,000 worth of woodworking equipment from Woodpeckers. Click for full details.

    • Staff Picks Blog

      Our favorite articles and videos

      We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive into a range of topics that matter.

    • Projects & Plans

      Digital Plans Library

      Browse our collection of 100+ complete digital plans, including Shaker furniture, Arts and Crafts pieces, beds, chairs, workbenches, tool storage, and more. Join now for complete access.

    Shaping

    View All
    • Phillip Morley's hands cutting kerfs in a piece of wood

      Calculated kerfs

    • Shape and ebonize walnut pegs

      Workshop tip: Shape and ebonize walnut pegs in a single step

    • Creating a custom cove molding

    • best woods for steam bending

      The best woods for steam-bending

    View All

    From the Store

    View More
    • Foundations of Woodworking

      Buy Now
    • The Why & How of Woodworking

      Buy Now
    • Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking USB

      Buy Now
    • Tool Guide 2022

      Buy Now
    View More

    Get the latest from Fine Woodworking Magazine

    • #292-NOV/DEC 2021

      • Kerf-bent wall cabinet
      • Online extras from FWW issue #292
      • How to tame curved parts with patterns
    • #291-Sep/Oct 2021

      • Build a modern coffee table
      • Online Extras from FWW Issue #291
      • Editor's Letter: Something old, something new
    • #290-July/Aug 2021

      • Build a Shaker chest of drawers
      • Online Extras from FWW Issue #290
      • From the editor: What we make matters
    • #289-May/June 2021

      • Arts & Crafts Coffee Table with Story-Book Charm
      • Links from Fine Woodworking issue #289
      • Step-by-Step Guide to Tuning Your Block Plane
    • #288-Mar/Apr 2021

      • Phil Lowe: A craftsman and gentleman
      • Online Extras from FWW Issue #288
      • Phil Lowe: craftsman, teacher, friend

    UNLIMITED membership - Get access to it all

    Start Free Trial Upgrade Membership

    Fine WoodWorking

    Follow

    Newsletter

    Get woodworking tips, expert advice and special offers in your inbox

    Sign Up

    Membership & Magazine

    • Members
    • Digital Libraries
    • Join Unlimited
    • Magazine Subscription
    • Magazine Renewal
    • Gift a Subscription
    • Customer Support
    • Manage Preferences

    Taunton Network

    • Fine Homebuilding
    • Green Building Advisor
    • Fine Gardening
    • Threads
    • About
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Careers
    • Copyright
    • Terms of Use
    • Accessibility
    • California Privacy Rights
    • Site Map

    © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Get step-by-step instructions, woodworking tips, expert advice and special offers in your inbox. Sign Up Now!

      Main Menu

    • Projects and Plans
    • How-To
    • Shop Tips
    • Tools & Materials
    • Videos
    • Gallery
    • Magazine
    • Video Workshops
    • Members
    • Forum

      Popular Topics

    • Design
    • Small Projects
    • Beds
    • Chairs, Benches And Stools
    • Built-ins
    • Storage And Shelves
    • Cabinets
    • Carving
    • Casework
    • Desks
    • Tables
    • Shop Storage And Furniture
    • Woodturning Projects
    • Workbenches
    • Surface Prep

      More

    • TV
    • Forum
    • Blogs
    • Webinars
    • Podcasts
    • Customer Support

      Account

    • Log In
    • Join

      Magazine

    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Digital Libraries
    • Magazine Index
    • Subscribe

      Membership

    • Member Home
    • Start Free Trial
    • Gift Unlimited
    • Log In

      Shop the Store

    • Books
    • DVDs
    • Taunton Workshops

      Events

    • Fine Woodworking Live
    • Fine Woodworking HANDS ON

      Account

    • Log In
    • Sign Up

    Newsletter

    Get woodworking tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

    Sign Up

    Follow

    UNLIMITED

    Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more.

    Start Your Free Trial

    Upgrade Membership