Opening Light and Embracing Light

A New Light: "time"

Lately, I've felt that the lighting in my room was a bit lacking.
Even with the lights on after sunset, it felt somehow "just bright," and I started to yearn for a slightly softer warmth amidst the quiet of the night.
That's when I discovered "time," a pendant lamp from 3RD CERAMICS.
The light that filters through its white porcelain lampshade truly lives up to its name, gently illuminating the passage of time.

When I opened the box it arrived in, my eyes met the smooth texture of white porcelain, quite similar to a beloved flower vase I own. A thin layer of clear glaze imparts a subtle sheen, softly reflecting the light. It's sleek yet somehow warm.
That "not-too-white white" was exactly what I was looking for.

In my home, I welcomed two "time" lamps: one shaped like a trumpet that spreads light, and one like a raindrop that cradles light. Although made of the same material, their expressions are entirely different.
I wonder what kind of moments I will spend with these lights.
Thinking about that, I hung them one by one.

 

Trumpet - Gently Spreading Light

I had already decided to hang the trumpet-shaped "time" over the dining table even before it arrived. It just felt like the most suitable shape for a light over a dining area.

As soon as I turned it on, it blended in so seamlessly, as if it had always been there.
With the mortar and wooden table, the soft white lamp settled in perfectly.
The beautiful curve of the trumpet gently flares downwards. Thinking about how the light extends along that curve makes me look forward to sunset.

 

Although it was still bright outside, I tried flipping the switch.
At that moment, the light effortlessly passed through the white porcelain, and a subtle orange seeped across the entire shade. I hadn't expected it to be so translucent, and I gasped in surprise.
Soft and warm.
Such simple words seem to best describe this light.

This shade is said to be made from "new born" porcelain clay, which has particularly high translucency among various types of porcelain clay. The light born through the clay carries a certain warmth of human touch, gently enveloping the space.

The many lines that appear in the light are apparently the marks of the potter's fingers on the wheel.
When I look at them again after hearing that, I feel as if each single line is inscribed with the time spent working with the clay. The slight movements and breaths of human hands quietly remain there as "patterns of light."

 

As evening passes and night approaches.
The orange hue gradually deepens, and the light settles firmly on the dining table. The lines visible through the white porcelain have also steadily become more pronounced.

Whether eating or reading, it maintains the necessary brightness without ever being glaring. This "just right" quality is comforting, and the tension of a busy day slowly unwinds.

Incidentally, I got a little dirt on it when installing it, but a light wipe with a cloth quickly restored its original whiteness. Later, I learned that a very thin layer of clear glaze is applied to the surface with the wish for it to "remain white forever," and it made perfect sense. For a place used every day, ease of maintenance is truly appreciated.

It's a light that can be used with peace of mind at the dining table.

 

 

Dewdrop - Gently Enclosing Light

The dewdrop-shaped "time" is in the living room.
I fell in love at first sight with its soft curves, as if capturing the moment a single drop of water spills.
Its form, which somehow evokes the rhythm of nature, resembles an objet d'art even when unlit.
Even when feeling a bit stressed, just glancing at it helps me relax.
It feels like it will become something that creates a small space of calm in my daily life.

 

On a cloudy afternoon, when I flipped the switch, the inside of the lamp filled with light, and a clear orange gradient emerged.
Its appearance was like the last drop of a sparkler, reminding me of the quietness just before it burns out, and the warmth residing within it.

If the trumpet spreads light and envelops the entire space, then the dewdrops embrace light, revealing its depth.
The more light it encloses, the more distinctly the potter's wheel lines emerge, and their shadows create the very expression of the light itself.

As I gaze at the orange glow of the dewdrops, I feel time gently unraveling, and my heart itself settling into a soft roundness.

 

 

Light that Changes with Time

From morning to night, "time" shows various expressions as time passes.
From white to orange, and then back to white.
The shades of orange visible in between convey a sense of "time" different from that of a clock's hands.

The trumpet light illuminates daily activities, while the dewdrop light envelops their afterglow.
The two "time" lamps create a quiet rhythm in life with their respective lights.

Even in busy days, when I glance up, the light's expression looks slightly different. It's strange how just that can instantly calm my mind.

May your everyday lives also be illuminated by a gentle light like "time."