The Iris Lantern

let there be light — or not

This time, I wanted to make something a little more clever: a lantern that opens and closes just like a camera iris. Flip the lever, and the blades smoothly reveal or block the light inside.

It’s a simple but mesmerizing mechanism — perfect as a desk ornament, mood light, or just a neat fidget piece to show off. Add a small LED or battery-powered tealight inside the diffuser for the full effect. And as per usual DO NOT USE AN OPEN FLAME.

Assembly Instructions

There’s an assembly GIF in the photos for all the visual learners out there — and written instructions below for everyone else.

Place the driving gear in the center of the base.

Arrange the driven gears in a circular pattern, positioning each one onto the smaller pins surrounding the center.

Set the lid over the driven gear pins, aligning everything carefully.

Attach the flaps onto each driven gear pin.

Finally, place your light source of choice on top of the lid, then cover it with the diffuser.