In the latest posts, we explored mathematical principles and fractal-like patterns. Today, let's put those inspirations into practice by creating something inspired by geometry - an origami paper lamp with a diamond pattern. The instructions come from a vintage French magazine, Echo de la Mode (19th - 25th November 1967). Enjoy!
MATERIALS
Two sheets of Bristol paper (350 g) measuring 65 × 60 cm; eight 3 × 3 mm balsa wood sticks; two 3 × 5 mm of balsa wood sticks; two sheets of tracing paper (90 g) measuring 65 × 50 cm; one 3 × 15 mm poplar wood strip; 1 tube of glue; 1 roll of invisible adhesive tape.
INSTRUCTIONS
On the Bristol paper sheets, mark a point every 4.5 cm across the width and every 4 cm along the length. Then draw triangles with a base of 9 cm (4.5 × 2) and a height of 4 cm.
Cut out 48 simple triangles, 48 triangles with an additional 5 mm strip on one of the sides opposite the base (for gluing) and 48 triangles with a 5 mm strip on the sides opposite the base.
Take one triangle of each type and apply strong glue to each 5 mm strip. Then glue the three triangles together to form a pyramid.
Trim two of the three tips of your pyramid to allow a 34.5 × 0.5 cm balsa wood stick to pass along one of the edges (see drawing A).
Glue your pyramids onto the balsa stick, leaving a 2.5 cm gap between them, meaning three pyramids per stick (see drawing B).
The first pyramid starts at one end of the stick. Let it dry. Then glue the sticks onto a wooden frame measuring 30 × 25 cm. The corner sticks should extend downward, while the central ones should point upward. Reinforce the frame with a 30 × 1.5 cm flat wooden strip. Once the structure appears sufficiently dry, glue the frame onto the tracing paper, which you will have previously stretched and secured with thumbtacks onto a drawing board.
Using a razor blade, cut away any excess tracing paper. Then join the four elements with invisible adhesive tape. To reinforce the entire structure and allow it to be hung, create a solid frame for your lantern by making a cross support out of poplar wood (see drawing C).
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