TIME Coolest Inventions 2004: Text-Messaging Chandelier

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GET THE MESSAGE
Lolita, the text-messaging chandelier

Inventor: Ron Arad
Availability: Now, $138,435
To Learn More: swarovskisparkles.com
When the Swarovski crystal company asked ultramodern furniture designer Ron Arad to create a chandelier last year, he promptly declined, saying, "Crystal is the epitome of kitsch. It is not my planet." This year he changed his mind and created Lolita, the first text-messaging chandelier. Made of 2,100 crystals and 1,050 white LEDs, the 5-ft. spiral displays SMS messages sent by any phone. Of course, you'd need Lolita's number ...

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BY ANITA HAMILTON, MARYANNE MURRAY BUECHNER, LEV GROSSMAN, SIMON CRITTLE AND SORA SONG / WITH REPORTING BY HANNA KITE AND YUKI ODA/TOKYO