Shoelast Chandelier

The work

A nine-foot-diameter, ten-foot-tall chandelier made with 50 bulbs and 266 vintage shoelast forms from Italy. Created in close collaboration with Chiappetta Shoes, the piece aligns with the brand while giving the expanded retail space a one-of-a-kind focal point.

The process

The structure was built from cold hand-rolled three-inch by three-sixteenths-inch flat-stock steel. Hundreds of holes were drilled and fitted with rivet nuts, holding custom welded brackets that keep each shoelast fixed in place rather than dangling.

The purpose

The commission was designed to activate the retail lobby and bring a genuine wow factor to the new expansion. It gives visitors a reason to enter, stay and explore while serving as a statement piece symbolic of the company's growth and grounded in its shoemaking heritage.