Embodying beautiful, historic Islamic Geometric Patterns in a warm, glowing lantern
THE STORY BEHIND THE LIGHT
Welcome to my studio. Every lantern I create here is a bridge between
centuries-old imagination and modern precision craftsmanship.
A TRIBUTE TO ANCIENT MASTERS
For centuries, brilliant artisans across Spain, Morocco, Turkey,
Tunisia, and beyond poured their souls into creating breathtaking
Islamic geometric patterns. Working without modern computers, they
relied on pure mathematics, symmetry, and a profound sense of balance
to adorn historic mosques madrasas, palaces and mausoleums.
Sadly, most of these master artisans remain entirely anonymous to history.
I see my work not as my own original art, but as a humble tribute to their
incredible imagination and skill. By translating their ancient designs,
which can only be seen in a few far flung places, into a warm, accessible lantern,
I aim to keep their legacy glowing in the modern world.
WHERE PRECISION MEETS HERITAGE
My journey to building these lanterns comes from a lifelong love of
geometry and a skill in designing and making physical objects. While I
use modern computational code to translate the 2D drawings of these
patterns and precision CNC lasers to cut the wood veneers from the
designs, the heart of the process is purely classical. I combine
high-end architectural woods—like aromatic Cedar, Walnut, Cherry, and
Sapele—with natural mulberry paper to perfectly diffuse the light,
ensuring that each piece honors the architecture it was inspired by.
LIGHTING A PATH TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING
Art and beauty have a unique power to transcend borders and bring
people together. In a world where division and misunderstanding can
easily spread, I want to use my craft to highlight the incredible,
peaceful, and culturally rich contributions that Muslim artisans gave
to humanity centuries ago. You do not need to share a specific faith
to appreciate the universal beauty of perfect symmetry. When you light
one of these lanterns in your home, my hope is that it brings you a
sense of serenity, a deeper appreciation for global history, and a
warm reminder of our shared human heritage. Thank you for supporting
independent craftsmanship and helping me keep this history alive.
— M. Hindi
P.S. If you would like to see how I build one of these lanterns, please head on to YouTube and watch my video: https://youtu.be/Pd1AJKUOFc4. Note: you cannot click the address in Etsy, but you can copy and paste the URL in a browser window.