New light on the icons 

 

An experiment, shedding a new light on two classics - a set of Zippo lighters and a menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum. While obtaining their primary roles, Zippo Gasolier opens a new product dimension and creates an intriguing symbiosis.

 

2013
Foto: Klemen Skubic

Clash of the titans 

 

In the mid-19th century, as gas lighting caught on, branched ceiling fixtures called gasoliers (a portmanteau of gas and chandelier) were produced, and many candle chandeliers were converted. This is where the idea came from – a set of ligthers as a chandelier, a pedestal to the brand and its history. A classic with a twist. Using a typical menorah shape as the basis, the final form took shape and there was light.

History on fire 

 

It lit generations for 80 years, it stood in first lines of fire, starred in countless Hollywood productions, until it conquered the world as an iconic item. Zippo stands for quality, reliability and character that shaped history. Many of the early advertising Zippo lighters are works of art painted by hand, and as technology has evolved, so has the design and finish of the Zippo lighter. But the basic mechanism of the Zippo lighter has remained unchanged.

Making it happen 

 

Thousands of different Zippo styles and designs have been made in the eight decades since their introduction but this is something completely different. As homage to the craftsmanship, historic value and function, Zippo Gasolier was created as one of a kind in collaboration between a company producing sacral artifacts since 1937 and industrial designer Luka Pirnat who is constantly exploring design possibilities in everyday objects. The gold-plated object introduces bearing at its core that allows it to spin and bring light where it is needed.