The Himmeli is a type of Nordic sculpture, and a traditional Christmas decoration from Sweden and Finland. These are pendants made of natural rods, such as reeds (plastic are also used), which are joined with ropes that are passed through the inside, forming different geometric patterns.
It is generally used for small designs, but by changing the scale and using copper tubes instead of wooden rods, a structure like this can be achieved, which with a table on top can perfectly serve as a table.
- A round board of plywood (or a piece of plywood, saw, sander, and iron-on finishing tape)
- Wood stain or varnish
- 12 meters of strong plastic rope (if you don’t know how to make hammeli, you can use wire to make it easier)
- 30 copper tubes 10 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter (you can use longer tubes and cut them with a saw)
- 3 supports for 1/2 inch copper pipe
- 6 small screws
1. To start, you need to build the hammeli base. If you’ve ever made a small rod sculpture, you just have to think about it on a larger scale, and do it in those dimensions. If you have never practiced the technique, you can start by trying to build a simple figure from a tutorial. In this video, you can learn how to make hammeli with noodles:
2. When you master the technique, you must build your giant hammeli, as you like. Keep in mind that you need to have two flat faces; one to rest on the floor and another on the table.
But, if you don’t want to learn or it is very difficult for you, you can also use a trick: do it with soft wire, like the ones used to make jewelry. Wire, unlike rope, can hold the shape you give it, so everything won’t need to be as tight to keep the table steady.
3. Once you have the structure ready, you must prepare the table. If you already got it round, just sand it if necessary and paint it however you like. If not, mark a circle on your plywood board, and cut it out.
4. Then, to make it more neat, sand the wood, and apply, with the help of the iron, a thermo-adhesive tape that is used in this type of finish.
5. When you have the structure and the table ready, join them by means of the 3 fasteners, screwing them.
6. Done! Before definitively holding the board, check that the base resists its weight well. If it doesn’t, adjust your himmeli.