Nuraya
The name Nuraya draws from the Swahili word “nuru”, which means light. It’s a word often used both in the physical and symbolic sense — light as illumination, but also as clarity, life and spiritual presence.
The name reflects the lamp’s essence: designed for a special interior in Kenya, Nuraya was created to bring not just brightness, but character and atmosphere, becoming a distinct element of its environment.
Making of Nuraya
At first glance, this gourd did not seem like an ideal candidate. Its surface had some uneven areas, and the wooden structure had visible imperfections. But this is part of the process—seeing potential where others might not.
The entire outer layer was carefully sanded down and leveled. This step revealed a new surface and a new possibility.
I designed the geometry of the pattern to be symmetrical, flowing and organic — a balanced structure that respects the natural form of the gourd while adding clarity and rhythm to its surface.
New, Exciting Technique
Nuraya was the first lamp in which I used a new technique involving mixing polymer gypsum with stabilized wood particles. The process was exciting, but required a lot of testing. I experimented with different color tones, grit levels, and proportions of stabilized wood particles to find the right balance.
Polymer gypsum is non-toxic, hard, and durable.
The entire pattern is first precisely carved into the surface, then filled with a mix of gypsum and fine particles of stabilized wood (green color) and red padouk wood. Stabilized wood is the same material I’ve used in crafting some of my jewelry. Once the compound hardens, the surface is carefully sanded until the resin remains only within the carved grooves of the design.
Achieving a clean and consistent result requires precision at every step — from carving to filling, to the slow and controlled sanding process.
Carving and Drilling
Because one of the main goals for Nuraya was to deliver strong lighting performance, I decided to keep the carved areas minimal — focusing them around the lower part of the lamp.
The perforation pattern is based on flowing, connecting waves, a visual motif I’ve used in several of my lamps. This is one of my favorite drilling techniques.
A Personal Experience
One of the most fulfilling parts of this process is the moment, after months of work, when I finally mount the lamp in a space, sit down, and immerse myself in its light. It’s a moment of calm and satisfaction.
Every lamp is a new challenge, a new lesson, a new path for growth in my craft.
Nuraya was one of those meaningful steps — demanding, exciting, and worth every hour of work. It also marked the beginning of a new chapter in my process, opening up a wide range of possibilities for future lamps.
Light is not only what we see — it’s what we feel. Nuraya was created to bring not just light, but presence.
Subtle, intentional, and crafted with care — a quiet presence that transforms the space it inhabits.
The main gallery presents a selection of my latest lamps.
If you want to see an overview of all Calabarte lamps, you can do so in THIS GALLERY.