ArtBuzz

Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl

Scroll down to learn more or purchase your own Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl! See the Sunfire in action! Watch the video at the bottom of page.
click thumbnail to view larger image. Firebowl design © 2009, John T. Unger

If you're looking for a retro firepit design that would look equally at home outside an Airstream or an architectural masterpiece by Alvar Aalto, the Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl is a fabulous choice.

Equal parts Space Age, sunburst, and primal element of fire, the Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl evokes sundials as strongly as satellites. The Sunfire was inspired in part by the 1947 Ball Clock created for Herman Miller when George Nelson, Noguchi and Bucky Fuller spent a festive evening drinking and doodling clock designs together. The Sunfire is an homage to clean, modern design: funky but functional, retro yet classical.

But the Sunfire owes just as much to bebop jazz, the soundtrack of the Modern age. Each Sunfire is a one-of-a-kind, unique work of art created by hand without resorting to a set pattern. The improvised, rhythmized pattern of the spokes is different on every firebowl—just as the dynamic interplay and overlap of virtuoso jazz soloists insures that every time a song is played, it is recognizable and yet an entirely new creation. The Sunfire is visual music, the sun solidified, fire in a Sputnik bowl.

The spokes of the Sunfire are of different lengths and thickness, just as the disks at the end vary in size. Some disks have holes pierced in them. I arrange them improvisationally to create rhythm and melody in striking array. And yes, they all sound a little bit different when you hit them like a marimba.

The spokes range from 4.5" to 11" long, so the Sunfire is much larger than it sounds: I measure the firepit by the diameter of the bowl, rather than the dimensions of the spokes, so a 30 inch Sunfire is actually more like 55 inches on average when measuring across the spokes. This makes it the largest standard firebowl design I offer.

The Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl has a pleasing rust patina as the standard finish. If you prefer black, you can paint the firebowl with a high-temperature grill or automotive spray paint. The heavy 1/4 inch thick steel plate can be left outdoors year round, requiring no maintenance to last generations. A hole is cut in the center of the bowl to allow water to drain and adaptation to gas burners.

Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl: Choose from three sizes
NOTE: The list size of the Sunfire is the diameter of the bowl, not the overall dimensions. The spokes add about 25 inches to each firebowl, as described below.
	40 inch Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl: $1499 with shipping* 40" diameter bowl, 18" high, bowl is 9" deep. Actual diameter including spokes is approximately 65 inches.
	37 inch Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl: $1249 with shipping* 37" diameter bowl, 15" high, bowl is 8" deep. Actual diameter including spokes is approximately 60 inches.
	30 inch Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl: $999 with shipping* 30" diameter bowl, 15" high, bowl is 6" deep. Actual diameter including spokes is approximately 55 inches.
	The Sunfire Modern Steel Firebowl is suitable for gas, wood or charcoal fires. Gas burner installation instructions are here.
	Upgrade to natural gas or propane burning firepit: The Great Bowl O' Fire ships ready-to-fit for clean-burning propane or natural gas burners. A simple manual light burner is best for most installations. Manual light: Order a 22" or 24" stainless burner from FireCrystals. For remote-ignition gas burners, call Steven at FireCrystals, 805.237.9188.
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.

Masks from Recycled Shovel Blades: the Face of Spades Series

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The Face of Spades series can be displayed as a single mask, or hung in a series to create totem poles, to embellish fences or deck railings, or even to construct a forest of tree faces. Inspired by traditional mask designs from all over the world, each Face of Spades carving is made from 100% recycled materials— the intricate designs are hand-cut from reclaimed shovels, carving freehand without the use of templates. Since each mask is hand-cut, yours may vary slightly from the photo shown. The Face of Spades series looks great both indoors or outdoors. In the garden they will turn a rich rust color, perfect for outdoor decoration. If you wish to preserve the mask outdoors, it's not a bad idea to spray it with WD-40 once a year or so.

 

Face of Spades: Masks, Tree Faces or Totem Pole Heads
$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy
$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy
$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy
$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$39 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy
$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy
$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy	$59 plus S+H. Buy at: 1000 Markets | Etsy
All Face of Spade Designs © 2009, John T Unger

Recycled Steel Garden Gong

This garden gong makes a nice zen accent for any garden. Each is hand-cut from a recycled Oxygen tank. The decorative piece on top is a scrap piece from making the Great Bowl O' Fire fire pits. My gongs are all one of a kind and tend to vary in design and tone. There is no ringer or "clanger" on the inside of the gong, but they come with a steel mallet for ringing that you can see if you click the detail image below. The hanger shown in the photo is made from a farm implement that plows the earth. The hanger must be ordered separately. I think that it makes a nice complement to the gong, but many people prefer to use their own method of hanging.
	Zen Garden Gong, Hanger + Mallet: $499 with shipping* 16" to 24" tall x 9" diameter
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.

Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 48

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Mixed Up Blues: Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 48, 2008 plywood, primer, blue bottle caps, becks bottle caps, recycled roofing copper 13" H x 48" W x 2.5" D
This fish is made from a mixed palette of blue bottle caps with a white face of Becks caps. The plywood is primed with two layers of Kilz primer and can be hung outdoors (but the caps may fade if you hang it in direct sunlight). The fins and tale are cut from recycled roofing copper. Click here to view a video tutorial of how I create my mosaic bottle cap sculptures.
	Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 48: $500 Including UPS Ground shipping*
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.

Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 47

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Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 47, 2008 plywood, primer, Bud Light, Heineken and Becks bottle caps, recycled car body metal 17" H x 49" W x 2.5" D
This fish is made from Bud Light, Heineken and Becks bottle caps. The plywood is primed with two layers of Kilz primer and can be hung outdoors (but the caps may fade if you hang it in direct sunlight). The fins and tale are cut from an old car, circa 1950s I think… I don't know what kind of car it was. Click here to view a video tutorial of how I create my mosaic bottle cap sculptures.
	Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 48: SOLD. Commission a similar fish for $500 Including UPS Ground shipping*
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.

Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 46

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Silvertone: Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 46, 2008 plywood, primer, Bud Light bottle caps, recycled car body metal 13" H x 44" W x 2.5" D
This fish is made from Bud Light blue and silver bottle caps. The plywood is primed with two layers of Kilz primer and can be hung outdoors (but the caps may fade if you hang it in direct sunlight). The fins and tale are cut from an old car, circa 1960s I think… I don't know what kind of car it was. Click here to view a video tutorial of how I create my mosaic bottle cap sculptures.
	Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 46: $500 Including UPS Ground shipping*
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.

Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 45

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Mixed Up Blues: Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 45, 2008 plywood, primer, Labatt Blue and Michelob Ultra bottle caps, recycled roofing copper 19" H x 49" W x 2.5" D
This fish is made from Labatt Blue and Michelob Ultra bottle caps. The plywood is primed with two layers of Kilz primer and can be hung outdoors (but the caps may fade if you hang it in direct sunlight). The fins and tale are cut from recycled roofing copper. Click here to view a video tutorial of how I create my mosaic bottle cap sculptures.
	Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 45: $500 Including UPS Ground shipping*
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.

Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 44

click thumbnail to view larger images.
Mixed Up Blues: Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 44, 2008 plywood, primer, Coca Cola, Becks and Harpoon bottle caps, recycled car body metal 12.5 " H x 44" W x 2.5" D
This fish is made from Coca Cola, Becks and Harpoon bottle caps. The plywood is primed with two layers of Kilz primer and can be hung outdoors (but the caps may fade if you hang it in direct sunlight). The fins and tale are cut from an old car, circa 1950s I think… I don't know what kind of car it was. Click here to view a video tutorial of how I create my mosaic bottle cap sculptures.
	Bottle Cap Fish Mosaic No. 48: $500 Including UPS Ground shipping*
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.

Great Flaming Lotus Recycled Steel Firebowl

Scroll down to learn more or purchase your own Great Flaming Lotus firebowl!
click thumbnail to view larger image. Firebowl design © 2007-2009, John T. Unger

 

Let the Great Flaming Lotus firepit bring a calming Zen to your garden. Just as the Egyptians regarded the lotus bloom as a symbol of resurrection, this simple and modern firebowl has been reborn from recycled steel. Warm and inviting, the Great Flaming Lotus offers a contemplative centerpiece referencing centuries of spiritual practice associated with the lotus blossom.

Hand-cut and ground to a smooth finish, the Great Flaming Lotus has a pleasing rust patina as the standard finish. If you prefer black, you can paint the bowl with a high-temperature grill or automotive spray paint. The heavy 1/4 inch thick steel plate can be left outdoors year round, requiring no maintenance to last generations. A hole is cut in the center of the bowl to allow water to drain. If you'd like to order the bowl to use as a water feature (without drain hole) drop me a line.

 

The Great Flaming Lotus Firebowl: Choose from two sizes
	37" Diameter Great Flaming Lotus: $999 with shipping* 22" high overall, bowl is 18" deep, base is 12" in diameter
	30" Diameter Great Flaming Lotus: $749 with shipping* 19" high overall, bowl is 15" deep, base is 11" in diameter
	The Great Flaming Lotus is suitable for gas, wood or charcoal fires. Gas burner installation instructions are here.
	Upgrade to natural gas or propane burning firepit: The Great Bowl O' Fire ships ready-to-fit for clean-burning propane or natural gas burners. A simple manual light burner is best for most installations. Manual light: Order a 22" or 24" stainless burner from FireCrystals. For remote-ignition gas burners, call Steven at FireCrystals, 805.237.9188.
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for US orders and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii (please call or email for rates to AK and HI). For International Orders please see FAQ here.

Isosceles Recycled Steel Fire Pit

Firebowl design © 2007-2009, John T. Unger

A simple, modern styled firepit hand-crafted from 100% recycled steel, the Isosceles Modern has been featured on HGTV's home makeover show, Red Hot & Green (episode 109, Tropical Getaway).

The Isosceles Modern holds a good-sized fire using gas, wood, charcoal or gel fuel fires. The triangular points of the bowl are a perfect complement to the shapes of the flames themselves. The Isosceles Modern is different from the King Isosceles in that it is more of a dish than a bowl… it has a more planar, shallow profile. You can see the difference by consulting the Style and Size Guide below.

Each Isosceles grill is hand cut from a round bowl shape, so dimensions will vary a bit from one to the next. Edges are ground down to a smooth finish. A rust patina is the standard finish, but if you prefer black, you can paint the grill with a high-temperature grill or automotive spray paint. The Isosceles is cut from 1/4 inch thick plate steel. The bowl should last generations with no maintenance. Water drains through a hole in the center of the bowl. (if you'd like to incorporate the Isosceles in a water feature, drop me a line and I can customize one without the drain).

Isosceles Firebowls: Style and Size Guide
28" Isosceles Modern	30" King Isosceles	37" King Isosceles	41" King Isosceles

Isosceles Modern Recycled Steel FirePit
	Isosceles Modern Fire Pit: $445 with shipping* approximately 28" across, 15" high,  70 lbs
	The Isosceles Modern is suitable for gas, wood, charcoal or gel fuel fires. Gas burner installation instructions are here.
	Upgrade to natural gas or propane burning firepit: The Great Bowl O' Fire ships ready-to-fit for clean-burning propane or natural gas burners. A simple manual light burner is best for most installations. Manual light: Order a 12" stainless burner from FireCrystals. For remote-ignition gas burners, call Steven at FireCrystals, 805.237.9188.
	*Shipping: Price includes shipping for Domestic US orders only. Alaska, Hawaii or Canada please call or email for rates. For International Orders please see FAQ here.