Chanukia- (definition) a Chanukah menorah. Sometimes spelled chanukiah. Plural: chanukiot.
It's been a long and varied effort over the past 29 years to make a well-designed and great-looking chanukia out of clay. So far, my efforts have been pretty amateur.
Last week I saw some chanukiot in the Ha'aretz Museum in Ramat Gan, Israel. These are inspiring chanukia design thoughts again.
One was brass, by L.Y. Wolpert, from the 1950s. The petal aspect of the backsplash to the candle holders is great. The thing is so cute I want to give it a little hug.
(L.Y. Wolpert brass chanukia, 1950s. Ha'aretz Museum, Ramat Gan, Israel)
Another brass chanukia I really like is this 1950s design, made to look like two olive leaves. This is right where my comfort zone lies, simple organic imagery crossed with functionality.
(Brass chanukia, ca. 1950. Ha'aretz Museum, Ramat Gan, Israel. Attributed, with a question mark, to Ya'alat Chen)
There was one ceramic one, as well, made from a thrown and altered bowl. I am thinking about how to throw this to accommodate oil instead of candles.
(Stoneware or earthenware chanukia, made from a thrown and altered bowl, by Hanna or Hava Samuel of Kav Vasefel Ltd, ca. 2000. From the collection of Ha'aretz Museum, Ramat Gan, Israel.)
August is the time- even kind of late- to think about things one will want to have finished by November.