Help & Answers
Frequently asked questions
Working with handmade, one-of-one pieces raises a few questions of its own: why a piece takes time to prepare, why its price arrives with a conversation, how a work travels safely to the other side of the world. From making to shipping, from design partnership to care, we have gathered the most common here, in a calm and open voice. If your answer isn't below, you can write to us directly at the foot of the page.
Section one
The works & their making
On materials, time, and why each piece is unlike any other in the world.
What exactly does "one of one" mean?
Every Penah piece is made by hand, one at a time; none is a copy of another. The pleat of the silk, the patina of the steel and the angle at which the light falls differ in each. We never “reproduce” a work; we can make a kin, never a twin. The piece you own is therefore the only one of its kind in the world, signed and numbered.
How long until a piece is ready?
If a piece is ready and waiting in the collection, it is prepared for shipping within a few days. For a work made new for you, including pleating the shade, patinating and resting the frame and final assembly, we set aside four to six weeks on average. We do not rush it; each stage is given time to dry and settle. We share the exact timeline when we confirm your order.
What are the works made of?
In the Blossom collection the shade is hand-pleated, hand-printed silk; the body is blackened, patinated steel. It is completed with fittings chosen with care for a warm, amber-toned light. We select materials both for their endurance and for the way they improve with time; the steel deepens in colour over the years, the silk softens the light.
Can we change the size, proportion or colour?
Yes. The collection is a starting point. We can define a piece's dimensions, drop length, shade form or patina tone together, for your space. This is part of our design-partnership process; we work through proportion and light, not a wish-list.
Is the bulb included, and what is the light like?
Each piece comes with a standard socket, and we specify the bulb we recommend; for a warm, amber light (roughly 2200–2700K) we suggest a dimmable LED. We prepare the piece for your region's voltage (220–240V or 110–120V); you need only tell us at the time of order.
How is installation handled?
Every piece arrives ready to hang, with its mounting hardware and a clear installation guide. For pendants and chandeliers we recommend fitting by an electrician. Within Istanbul, and for bespoke work, we can undertake on-site installation and positioning ourselves.
Section two
Ordering, prices & shipping
On how a piece finds you, why prices come with a conversation, and safe passage worldwide.
How do I acquire a piece, or can I add it to a basket?
Penah is a showcase, not a shop; you don't add works to a basket with a click. You write to us about the piece that interests you, and we share its availability, dimensions and process with you. It is a deliberate, unhurried path that lets each work reach the right hands and the right room.
Why can't I see prices on the site?
Because most works take shape around their size, choice of materials and personalisation; a single tag cannot tell that honestly. When you ask, we give a clear, itemised price for the piece you have in mind, with no surprises. We believe in transparency, not ambiguity.
How does payment work?
For works made new for you we usually take a deposit (often 50%) to begin, and collect the balance when the piece is ready to ship. We accept bank transfer and secure card payment. All terms are made clear at the very outset, in a single written confirmation.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Our works travel from Istanbul worldwide, insured and trackable. Each piece is packed in a custom, soft-layered box made for its delicate shade and frame. We confirm the transit time and shipping cost once we have your address.
Who is responsible for customs and taxes?
On international shipments, any import duties or customs charges in the destination country are the recipient's responsibility; these vary from country to country. We prepare all documentation fully and accurately, and do everything we can to keep the process smooth.
Are returns or exchanges possible?
For ready collection pieces we accept returns in original condition within a short window after delivery. Works made or personalised specifically for you cannot be returned, as they are uniquely yours. Should a piece arrive damaged, write to us at once; we will repair or remake it.
Section three
Design partnership
For architects and interior designers, on shaping your project's language of light, together.
How do you work with architects and interior designers?
We meet you as a design partner, not a supplier. We read your project's language of light, its palette and proportions together, and design site-specific single pieces or small series. On technical drawings, material samples and timing we work directly with your studio, at a calm pace.
How does the bespoke process work?
The process runs in four unhurried steps: first we listen to the space and the intent; then we present a proposal and sketch on proportion, form and light; once approved, we make it one by one in the atelier; finally we deliver, and position on-site if needed. We decide with you at every step; consensus, not surprise.
How does project-based pricing and collaboration work?
For each project we prepare an itemised quote based on quantity, size and complexity. We offer dedicated terms to studios we work with regularly and to multi-piece projects. We speak openly about budget and schedule from the very start, and avoid surprises throughout.
Do you provide samples or material swatches?
Yes. Once a direction is clear we can present with silk and patina samples and, where appropriate, a sample shade, so you judge the light and texture in hand, not on paper. For your presentation boards we share technical information and high-resolution imagery.
Are delivery, installation and commissioning included?
For projects in and around Istanbul we handle delivery, on-site installation and positioning. Elsewhere we provide a clear guide for reliable fitting and, if needed, remote support for your local team. Our aim is that the piece gives exactly the light your project intends.
Section four
Care, certificate & assurance
On how your piece is kept over the years, the papers it arrives with, and how we stand behind it.
How do I clean and care for my piece?
Dust the silk shade lightly, with a soft dry brush or a lint-free cloth; use no water, spray or chemicals. Wiping the steel body with a dry cloth is enough. Keep the piece away from direct damp and constant sun. With the right care your piece only grows more beautiful over the years.
What if the shade or body is damaged?
Write to us. Because it is a handmade work, we can often repair it by the same hand, re-pleating the shade or re-patinating the frame. Our aim is for the piece to stay with you for a lifetime; we seek to heal it, not replace it.
What documents come with the piece?
Each piece comes with a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity, bearing the work's name, its collection, year of making, materials and care notes. It is the written record of your piece being one of one.
What does your assurance (warranty) cover?
We stand behind our works against faults in craft and materials. Should a defect in making appear under normal use, we repair or remake it. This assurance does not cover ordinary wear or accidental damage. But even then we are beside you; a repair is always open to discussion.
What if I want to sell or pass on a piece?
The certificate and number carry the work's provenance; its identity is preserved even when it changes hands. Simply write to us so we can update our record. A Penah piece is passed on with its story, well beyond its first day.
Didn't find what you were looking for?
If your question isn't here, ask us directly.
Every piece begins with a conversation. A work you have in mind, your project, or simply a curiosity: write to the atelier in Istanbul. Every note is read, patiently, in the order in which it arrives.