‘sleeping beauty’ by aniela hoitink for neffa all images courtesy of neffa

amsterdam-based designer aniela hoitink has created ‘sleeping beauty’ lamps for her company neffa. drawing from its namesake fairytale and ballet, this series of lamps is a tribute to tutus and the skill of old crafts.‘making tutus is an old craft that is gradually disappearing. in the whole of europe, only one craftsman remains who has mastered the skill,’ says hoitink. she continues, ‘with tutus, the focus is often on the outside and the decorations, yet neffa is interested in the underside: how the tutu is made and how it remains stiff while giving the dancers enough freedom to dance. this complex construction is why making tutus is such a difficult and labour-intensive process.’

neffa: sleeping beauty underside of ‘sleeping beauty’

the focus the underside’s design results in diffuse lighting through constructed layers of tulle netting. ‘sleeping beauty’ consists of nine handmade tutu lamps: eight lamps represent the dancers, while the ninth lamp represents aurora, the sleeping beauty, and is decorated with leaves inspired by the character’s hedge of roses.

neffa: sleeping beauty ‘aurora’ detail

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