BLOTT WORKS - MADE London Marylebone

BLOTT WORKS is artist-designer Dan Morrison who makes his unique functional pieces in his workshop in the Pennines.

Dan likes architecture. And machines. He also likes birds, people and other natural forms.

His work draws on these things to produce items that have a strong mechanical or structural aesthetic with real personality. He uses materials with a rich industrial and decorative heritage.

GALLERY OF WORK

: The Clamshell Alchemist lamp by BLOTT WORKS : Hand-carved oak clamshell that opens to reveal a light source shining up from the lower shell. The shell holds a glass dish filled with translucent ceramics that glow with the light. You open the clamshell by turning a brass handle connected to a rack and pinion gear mechanism. The upper clamshell moves through 80 degrees, from closed to wide open. – Hand-engineered limited edition of 100
– Oak, anodised aluminium, stainless steel, brass, glass, concrete and bone china fragments
– Size of a medium cat (50 cm tall x 27 cm wide, 55 cm deep)
– Weights 10kg
– 240V 50Hz mains powered, GX53 LED bulb
– Supplied with optional bone china fragments
– Locations: table-top design for residential and hospitality
– Designed and handmade by Dan Morrison Inspiration: Clamshells, oysters and pearls, incubators, nests, alchemy, space colonies, nurturing, protecting, hidden secrets and the slow reveal

: Beacon floor lamp by BLOTT WORKS :
This floor lamp has two positions allowing it to function as both a standard lamp and an uplighter. When closed it casts light patterns on its surroundings. When open it bounces light off the ceiling for a more ambient effect. The shade is made from oak, with a brushed aluminium pole, and a stainless steel base. The lights are dimmable via the brass knob mounted at waist height.

– Hand-engineered limited-edition of 15
– Oak, aluminium, brass and stainless steel
– Size of a very thin human (1.7m nominal height)
– 240V GU10 LED spotlights (optionally 2, 4 or 6)
– Shade opened using two hands
– Designed and handmade by Dan Morrison

Inspiration: Tulip, rose, flame, fire, match, clasped hands, mechanical digger, hill-top beacons, slatted architecture

: Breeze fan-assisted vase by BLOTT WORKS :
Breeze #1 is a fan-assisted vase designed to animate flower displays. It uses a small electric fan to blow air through any grasses or flowers you choose to display. Use it to display fragrant flowers such as lavender and it will waft the sweet scent around the room.

– Handmade limited edition of 25
– 240V mains (with adaptor)
– Size: small loaf of bread size
– Materials: aluminium, glass, concrete, oak, electrics
– Battery version available
– For use with dry displays or with water
– Safe for fingers – fan stops easily if touched
– Low voltage so no risk of electrocution
– Designed and handmade by Dan Morrison

Inspiration: plants in the garden, windy hillsides, windmills, turbines, japanese flower arranging – Ikebana

: Jodrell Nixie grandfather clock by BLOTT WORKS :
Jodrell is a collaborative piece designed with Paul Parry of Bad Dog Designs. It is a contemporary take on the traditional grandfather clock. The clock uses four IN-12 Nixie tubes set in a circular brass plate. It is WiFi enabled for time synchronisation. and has a switchable backlight which bounces reflected light from the dish. When this backlight is turned off it is replaced by a rotating glow that indicates the passing seconds.

– Hand-engineered limited edition of 15
– Aluminium, oak, brass, stainless steel and Nixie tubes
– Height 1.6m
– 4 x original IN-12 Nixie tubes
– 240V mains supply
– Supplied with different materials for base
– Designed and made by Dan Morrison and Paul Parry

This floor standing Nixie clock is named ‘Jodrell’ as a nod to the British scientific observatory at Jodrell Bank. This is because it has the appearance of something that is waiting patiently for incoming extraterrestrial communications.

: Crane desk lamp by BLOTT WORKS :
Crane bird lamp is both a desk lamp and a decorative bird sculpture. The oak 'beak' of the lamp acts as the lamp shade, with light emitting from its lower surface. The reach of the lamp is adjusted by turning a brass handle to engage the 'rack & pinion' gear assembly. The beech spheres ('eyeballs') adjust the tension of the 'beak' shade so that its position can be changed by hand.
As the name suggests, the design of this lamp is a mix of the bird 'Crane' and the construction 'crane'.

– Hand-engineered limited edition of 15
– Aluminium, oak, stainless steel, concrete, brass and rubber
– Size of a Heron (57cm tall x 15cm wide x 82cm deep (max))
– Weighs 6kg
– G9 LED bulb
– 240V mains powered
– Neck extends 25cm (80 degrees of rotation) from retracted to extended
– Beak light has 190 degrees of rotation
– Designed and handmade by Dan Morrison

Inspiration: cranes, herons, swans, construction cranes, heavy machinery, steel bridges, architectural structures, engineering parts, architect lamp, anglepoise lamp.

: Dan at work on his 1960s metal turning Lathe :
A picture of Dan working at his lathe turning parts for one of his engineered lamps.

: Early sketch of a Balance lamp :
I currently working on a new collection of lamps that play with the idea of balance, gravity, equilibrium etc and am hoping to be able to show them at MADE along with a few of my existing designs.