An onyx lamp is made in five steps: the block is selected under light, the form is cut according to the stone’s vein map, the body is hollowed out from within with a diamond-tipped milling cutter down to a wall thickness of 6–12 mm, the surface is polished first by machine and then by hand, and finally brass, steel, or marble parts are fitted by hand and the lamp is checked lit. Each step directly determines how light will pass through the stone.
In this article we walk through production in Nyxora’s Izmir atelier step by step, together with the reason behind each decision.
What are the steps in making an onyx lamp?
Production goes through five stages: selection, cutting, carving, polishing, and assembly. Nyxora is a studio that makes handmade table lamps, wall sconces, and floor lamps from natural onyx in its Izmir atelier, and each lamp takes shape in the atelier in the hands of a single artisan.
- Block selection: The block is examined under light; the vein direction, degree of translucency, and color are noted.
- Reading the veins and cutting: The form is placed according to the stone’s vein map.
- Carving: The body is hollowed out from within with a diamond-tipped milling cutter.
- Polishing: The surface is polished in stages, first by machine and then by hand.
- Assembly and light: Metal or marble parts are attached by hand, and the lamp is checked lit and recorded with its block number.
In mass production, the form is drawn first and the material is made to fit it. In a handmade stone lamp, the order is reversed: the block itself determines where and how the form will be placed.
How is a block chosen for an onyx lamp?
Each block is examined on the light table and three things are noted: vein direction, degree of translucency, and color. A block that is not right for one model is set aside for another form; no stone is forced.
Light reveals the side of the stone that cannot be seen from the surface. In a backlit block, you can read at first glance where the bands flow, which areas let light through generously and which stay dim, and where the hairline cracks lie inside the stone. This information determines which model the block suits.
A highly translucent white onyx, for example, suits a thin-walled body that glows from top to bottom. A river onyx with dark, pronounced bands, on the other hand, is better suited to a form in which its bands will read in a single direction. Not forcing the stone means that each form meets the pattern that suits it.
Why does the cutting direction matter so much?
The cutting direction determines the face through which light will filter and how the bands will read when the lamp is lit. The same stone, cut in a different direction, becomes an entirely different lamp.
Because onyx forms layer by layer, it resembles pages stacked one on top of another. On a surface cut perpendicular to the layers, the bands appear as stripes; on a surface cut parallel to the layers, the pattern takes on a cloudy, ringed look. The artisan’s job is to read this map and place the form on the most meaningful section.
Two Nyxora lamps show this clearly. A horizontally banded river onyx reads horizontally in Strata d’Onyx, whose stone shade is a horizontal block, and vertically in the mushroom-shaped Golden Aura d’Onyx. The stone is the same type; the difference comes from the cutting decision.
How is the stone body carved, and why a wall thickness of 6–12 mm?
The body is hollowed out from within with a diamond-tipped milling cutter, and the wall thickness is reduced to the 6–12 mm range. This range is a balance: thin enough to let light through, thick enough to withstand daily use.
Wall thickness is the key measurement that defines the character of an onyx lamp. The thinner the stone, the more light it lets through, the lighter the colors, and the sharper the bands; but the piece becomes more fragile, both during carving and in use. As it gets thicker, durability increases, but the light weakens and the warm tones darken. An uneven wall thickness also makes the stone look bright in one place and dim in another.
That is why at Nyxora the wall thickness is set separately for each model, according to the light source used. Here are some examples from the product sheets:
| Model | Onyx part | Wall thickness | Stone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liora d’Onyx (wall sconce) | Wavy-edged shade, Ø24 cm | 6 mm | Cream and honey-toned onyx |
| Golden Aura d’Onyx (table lamp) | Dome shade, Ø52 × H16 cm | 6–8 mm | River onyx |
| Halo d’Onyx (table lamp) | Trapezoidal shade, 50 × 26 × H26 cm | 6–8 mm | Orange onyx |
| Ombrelle d’Onyx (table lamp) | Eight shade panels, Ø46 cm umbrella | 6–8 mm | Blue onyx |
| Strata d’Onyx (table lamp) | Horizontal block shell, 46 × 18 × H14.5 cm | 8 mm | River onyx |
The light source is part of this calculation too. Depending on the model, Nyxora’s technical sheets specify LED sources of 5–15 W with G9, E14, and E27 sockets. LED suits the stone because it produces little heat, and 2700 K warm white shows the colors of onyx without fading them. To choose the right bulb for your model, see our guide to choosing a lamp bulb.
How is onyx polished?
The carved body is polished in stages, first by machine and then by hand, while matte areas called for by the design are deliberately preserved. Polishing changes both the look of the stone and the way it diffuses light.
Staged polishing means working the surface from coarse to fine with progressively finer abrasives. The machine evens out broad surfaces; the hand completes the work on curves, edges, and inner contours the machine cannot reach. Because calcite is a soft mineral, it polishes easily, but for the same reason it also scratches easily; so no stage is considered finished until the marks of the previous one have been completely removed.
A polished surface brings out the depth of the stone; the eye seems to be looking at the pattern from a few millimeters inside. A matte surface diffuses light more softly and gives the stone a tactile, sculptural quality. Using both surfaces together in one lamp keeps the form legible even when unlit.
What happens during assembly and the light check?
In the final stage, brass, steel, or marble parts are attached to the stone by hand; each lamp is checked lit and recorded with the number of the block it was cut from. This is the moment when the stone’s true relationship with light is seen in full for the first time.
The metal parts are not merely supports; they also set the language of the design. In Brime d’Onyx, a matte black powder-coated steel shade and a steel disc base frame the honey onyx cylinder at both ends. In Ombrelle d’Onyx, eight radial brass ribs carry the thinly cut blue onyx panels like an umbrella. The burgundy steel body of Strata d’Onyx holds the heavy river onyx block like a cantilever beam.
The electrical components are also planned model by model. Brime d’Onyx, for example, uses an E27 socket, max. 15 W, and 220–240 V, and has a 1.5 m cable with an on/off switch on the cord. Strata d’Onyx, by contrast, has a touch switch on the body.
Why are no two onyx lamps alike?
Because each lamp is cut from a different block, or from a different part of a block, and the band pattern of onyx never repeats anywhere. The dimensions and form stay the same; the vein map, color tone, and distribution of light are unique to each piece.
Three factors amplify this difference. The first is the stone itself: the thickness and color of the bands vary even within the same block. The second is the cutting decision: each time, the form is placed according to the vein map of that particular piece. The third is handwork: polishing and assembly are completed in the hands of a single artisan, in a way specific to the piece.
At Nyxora, each design is produced in limited numbers, and the number of the block each lamp is cut from is recorded. Because it is natural stone, the veining and color tone may differ from the product image; a photograph of the block can be shared with any customer who asks before production. If you would like to get to know the stone itself more closely, see our what is onyx guide.
At the Nyxora studio, we do not impose a form on the stone; we first read the block’s vein map and place the form where that map allows.
What does this process give you when you order?
The handmade process means you can see your lamp’s stone before production and make your choice with your own space in mind. At Nyxora there are two ways to do this.
The free consultation is open to all customers and carries no obligation to buy. You send a few photos of your space and a short description; the studio prepares two or three suggestions within 1–2 business days, and the decision is made together on a video call or at an atelier appointment. After the order, the block number is recorded.
For architects and designers running residential, boutique hotel, restaurant, office, or showroom projects, there is the Architects & Designers Program. Scaled front, side, and top view drawings are shared for each model, and the block reserved for the project is selected together under light. Height, shade color, and metal finish can be adapted to the project, and the production schedule is confirmed in writing according to quantity and delivery date.
Frequently asked questions
How is an onyx lamp made?
An onyx lamp is made in five steps. The block is examined under light and selected, the form is cut according to the stone’s vein map, the body is carved with a diamond-tipped milling cutter down to a wall thickness of 6–12 mm, and the surface is polished first by machine and then by hand. In the final step, brass, steel, or marble parts are fitted by hand; the lamp is checked lit and recorded with its block number.
Why does wall thickness matter in an onyx lamp?
Wall thickness determines both how much light the lamp will give and how durable it will be. The thinner the stone, the more light and the lighter the colors, but the more fragile the piece; the thicker it is, the greater the durability, but the weaker the light. In Nyxora lamps this value is 6–12 mm, set separately for each model according to the light source used.
Why do two lamps of the same model look different?
Because each lamp is cut from a different block, or from a different part of a block, the band pattern, color tone, and distribution of light vary from piece to piece. The dimensions and form are the same, but the vein map does not repeat. This is not a flaw of natural onyx but its identity; the piece you own has no twin.
Can I see the block my lamp will be cut from in advance?
Yes. At Nyxora, a photograph of the block their lamp will be cut from can be shared with any customer who asks before production. Because the veining and color tone of natural stone may differ from the product image, this photograph lets you see the difference at the ordering stage. The free consultation also offers a video call or an appointment at the Izmir atelier. In the Architects & Designers Program, the block reserved for the project is selected together under light.
Which bulb should be used in an onyx lamp?
An LED bulb is recommended because it produces little heat. For color temperature, choose 2700 K warm white; cool white light fades the color gradations of onyx and turns them gray. The socket type and maximum wattage vary by model: Nyxora’s technical sheets specify sources of 5–15 W with G9, E14, and E27 sockets. When changing the bulb, unplug the lamp and wait for the bulb to cool.