1 The form is first made in wax, as perfect as I want the finished piece to be. Most of these forms are totally hand built - no two the same. Here I start with an
O-void. |
2 The form is laid on its side, and sprus are added. These are where the glass will run in. In this case, for the o-void forms, I use two sprus.
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3 To make a refractory mould (one that can withstand the high temperature in the kiln) the wax form is covered with a silica/plaster/water mix, layer by layer.
I may also add fibreglass, grog or paper pulp to give the mould strength or flexibility. |
4 The final mould. The thickness of the mould varies according to the size of the final piece.
The wax is then steamed out of the mould so there is no wax left inside - a hollow form which will be replaced by glass - the lost wax process. |
5 The mould has been placed in the kiln, ready for firing. A terra-cotta pot filled with glass is placed over each spru. The door of the kiln is closed and it is fired for 1- 3 weeks, depending on the thickness of the glass.
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6 After firing, and when the mould has cooled. The glass has run in through the holes in the flowerpot, slightly overflowing.
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7 De-moulding the piece. You can see the pale aquamarine glass and one of the sprus in the foreground.
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8 A huge amount of finishing goes on after the piece is de-moulded. This is usually done with hand held angle grinders - working through the gamut from coarse to fine with diamond polishing pads.
After the piece is as perfect as I can get it I then get it sandblasted, and following that acid etched to give it back some of its translucence. I might then polish one side further to give it a totally mirror like finish. |
G L A S S C A R E
For odd fingerprints etc. rub with a clean soft window cleaning cloth.
If a better clean is needed, wash with soapy water (dish-wash liquid like Sunlight is fine), rinse with clear water, and dry with a soft window cloth.
The glass is soft as it has a high lead content, so be careful with the polished faces. Accidents can happen - if you do have any scratches or chips, get in touch with the gallery or me, usually I will be able to repair them.
All artworks and images on this website are copyright to Christine Cathie. No unauthorised reproduction is permitted