Sounds like a cool project! First, let’s decide what “breathing” actually means—maybe a little crank that turns a gear‑driven shutter to let light in and out, creating a pulsing shadow effect. We’ll need a sturdy metal frame, a set of bronze gears for smooth motion, and a simple pulley system to control the shutter. I’ll sketch a basic layout and list the parts so you can grab them. Let me know if you want the device to glow or have any other special effects, and we’ll tweak the design.

Sounds perfect, I can already picture the gears turning and that subtle glow flickering like a dying candle. We’ll sand the bronze to make the ridges look worn, coat the frame with matte black primer, and run a thin silver filament through the gear teeth to catch the light. I’ll set up a small switch so you can control the pulsing—just a single coil and a low‑voltage battery pack. Let me know if you want a quick test run or more tweaks before you lock it in.