How to Make Chinese Lamps
Paper and silk lamps and lanterns have been made in China for centuries. Although often associated with China, these types of lanterns are common in other parts of Asia, including Japan and Korea. Paper or silk lamps and lanterns are thin, translucent paper or silk stretched and glued over a bamboo, wood, or wire framework. Making a lamp or lantern is not difficult.
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Things You'll Need
- Material for frame (thin wood or bamboo or wire)
- Surface (rice paper or silk)
- Glue
- Tape
- Heat source (optional)
- String
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Make a series of hoops to create the vertical shape of the lamp. To make a barrel shaped lamp or lantern, make all the hoops the same size. For a round lamp or lantern, make a series of hoops of different sizes, with matching sizes for the top and bottom of the lamp. If you are using wire, bend the wire to the desired circumference and tape the ends together. If you are using wood or bamboo, you may need to heat the material to make it more flexible. If using wood or bamboo, glue the ends of the strips together.
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2
Cut a series of ribs the height of the desired lamp. If you are using wire, tape the ribs to the hoops to begin to create the overall shape. If you are using wood or bamboo for your framework, glue the ribs to your hoops. You may need to use tape to hold the parts together while the glue sets.
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3
Cover your lantern with translucent rice paper or silk. If you are using wire for your frame, carefully run a bead of tape along the lengths of wire on the frame and stretch the material or paper over the frame. Leave the top or bottom of your lamp open enough to to slip your hand inside and affix the tape to the paper or silk. If using wood or bamboo, apply a thin layer of glue to the outside of the framework and affix the paper or wood to the frame.
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4
Attach a piece of string to the top opening of your lamp by tying it around your framework. This string will allow you to tie the lamp to a hanging fixture.
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Tips & Warnings
Pre-measure the overall size of silk or rice paper by rolling your framework over a larger piece and marking the beginning and ending.
Trim pie-shaped pieces out of your silk or paper to make it fit curves in your lamp by making a single cut and forming the material to the shape. Cut the excess off with scissors so the two edges meet evenly. By removing excess material, your lamp will not have areas with double-layers of silk or rice paper.
If using tape to assemble your lamp, use thin strips of a tape with a very good adhesive and try to use compact fluorescent bulbs to avoid having the adhesive come loose with heat.
