'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend 1' lantern

Matali Crasset

(born France, 1965)
2008

Paktong, mouth-blown sheet glass
Prototype for Meta
Lent by Meta, London

Paktong is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel. It was developed as early as the 12th century in China and was prized because it looked like a cross between gold and silver and would not tarnish. Until now, its recipe had been lost. Matali Crasset's lamp is like a massively enlarged diamond pendant.