Boudicca Lamp
Perfection can’t be rushed…
This is the story of a lockdown legend. Boudicca Lamp is bold, glam, and utterly unforgettable - a warrior queen reimagined in mirror and marabou. She lived in my imagination for five years before finally emerging during lockdown. From a hand-cast torso to a couture lampshade, every detail was built with intention, flair, and just the right amount of irreverence. She sold at my first ever exhibition, and although it nearly broke my heart to let her go, she now holds court in a beautiful Norfolk home, lit from within and loved as she should be.
Her form began with a wrapped cast taken from a beloved display bust - enhanced with an old bra to create fuller curves. I layered modroc bandages over cling film, building up the shape in sections. Once dry, I cut her open with a Dremel, then resealed and reinforced the sculpture with more plaster. Her surface was sanded, smoothed, and prepped for the glimmering transformation to come.
This is where the fun really began. I cut shards of mirror glass and carefully mosaicked her surface, piece by piece, embracing irregularity and rhythm. Her grout faded gradually from a deep charcoal at the base to a soft light grey around the neckline - a subtle gradient to enhance her contours. The inner surface was sealed with archival varnish for durability. She was already breathtaking, but her true flamboyance still waited in the wings.
Grouting Boudicca was a dusty, gritty job - but also deeply satisfying. Every shard was hand-placed, and the moment the grout hit, she started to transform. This is me mid-way through, masked up and marvelling at how she was already beginning to glow beneath the mess.
Here she is, just after grouting, before the final wipe down revealed the brilliance underneath. A buxom beauty ready to shine.
I knew her lampshade needed to match her energy. I stitched panels of Italian wool eyelash zebra print into a fitted cover, slipping it over the frame like a bespoke gown. Hand-stitched black binding refined the edges, while pink pom-pom fringe, black marabou trim, and AB crystal droplets brought drama and light play.
When she was lit for the first time, the effect was magical - reflections danced across the room, and Boudicca truly came to life. Her silhouette was striking but something was still missing.