TON Art’s Seriously Unusual Sculpture/Speaker/Lights $13,000+
By Julie Jacobson
At CEDIA 2010, newcomer TON Art will debut combination loudspeaker/light fixtures that look like unusual works of art. Giant lava mounds for surround sound? Gold Buddhas for ambiance?

I suggested earlier this year that combo loudspeaker/lights would be a big thing in 2010 and beyond.

So far we’ve seen wireless screw-in bulb replacements from Klipsch and Artison, and floor lamp/speakers from Soundolier. We’ve also seen a number of wireless light/speaker combos bordering on the cheesy.

But there are also a few fancier light/speaker products out there, including beautiful metallic products (pendants, sconces and outdoor) from DeTomo and Italian glass beauties from Sonance/NACSound that may never ship.



But the fanciest light speakers we’ve ever seen come from startup TON Art (that’s TON as in “tone”).

Given its tagline – Art, Sound and Light -- you can guess where the company’s top priority lies. TON creates works of art that happen to have built-in speakers and halogen lights.

“Each sculpture is literally being hand-crafted by an artist,” according to the Web site. That’s why you should expect 12 weeks for delivery by either a professional art mover or audio specialist.

Most of the pieces feature 23-karat gold leaf from Germany that is “painstakingly applied by hand (and at times then lacquered ). It is a very laborious process!”

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