Like illuminated gymnastics rings, improbably suspended from the ceiling and primed to vault some budding athlete to the spheres, Ted Bradley’s Rings defy notions of what it’s possible to do with mere clay.

Actually the eminently earthy porcelain, to be precise, that transmutation of a very-specific type of clay (Kaolinite) via high heat into Mullite, a rare mineral possessed of extraordinary properties of strength and translucency. The latter explains why porcelain is an auspicious choice for lighting, even though Bradley was told that what he wanted to accomplish was many degrees less than likely.

“Two master mold makers told me it would be impossible to make geometrically perfect rings from porcelain. I embarked on a year-long journey, working by hand through 1400 pounds of clay and experiencing hundreds of failures before creating the world’s first set of porcelain light rings. It takes more than 200 steps and 3 weeks to make a single ring.”

Bradley’s extraordinary patience is lucky for us. The perfectly symmetrical rings, which take life as multiple lines of light sculptures, offer a tantalizing balance of subtlety and flair. They make dazzling visual displays whose showiness is tempered by their soft, even, centrifugal glow.

The Constellation and Mono Pendant lines pictured above are complemented by “Swag” and “Nest”. the former imparts drama via its sweeping cord, while the latter jumbles things up with a nature-inspired configuration that’s like a contained explosion of wildness.

In addition to the natural look, Bradley offers a palette of porcelain glazes (“fired to more than 2000 degrees to create a sheer layer of glass”) in a range of finishes from matte to high-gloss. As with the fiery orange-red above, these colors either amp up the awe or draw it down to a more sedate level depending on user preference. Custom colors are available as well.

These Rings are not a small ticket item but rather heirloom artifacts of design. Each fixture is hand-made by Bradley in his Boulder, Colorado studio: “We take pride in what we create, individually designing and handcrafting each piece to be the perfect fit for your space. When you commission one of our pieces you get more than just a light – you receive a sculpture with meaning – a piece that tells a story.”

Read more about Bradley and his entire collection of Rings (He makes “Domes” too!) at Ted Bradley Studio.