Faceted Triangle: British Studio Glass
Brian Blanthorn and his wife Jenny have been glass makers for many years. The workshop was established in 1983 and since then they have specialised in the fusing and slumping of multilayered glass. Examples of their original style can be found in major collections throughout the world.
Inspired by patterns in nature and, in particular by the form and line of geological strata, they have perfected their techniques over time to produce works which bring out the full refractive possibilities of the glass. The pieces start out as flat sheets of glass which are coated by printing or sponging. The coated sheets are then cut into strips or pieces, stacked and then fused together. During the fusion process chemical reactions take place at each coated surface producing iridescent colours at each interface. After cooling the bulk slab can be cut, shaped and optically polished. This work, in the form of a three sided pyramid contains over 60 layers of glass, and internal reflections from the three faces enhance the optical effects.
Light shining through the piece produces amazing opalescent colours of blue, gold, yellow, pink depending on the illuminating angle and viewing angle. Slight changes of either produces a different appearance. This shot is taken front on to show the layer construction. The two darker bands at the bottom are black coated layers to echo sedimentary layers found in rock formations.
For a macro detail of the internal structure see here.
British Studio Glass: Faceted Triangle by Brian and Jenny Blanthorn. Coated flat glass, fused and slumped. Cut, shaped and optically polished. Made 2001. Height; 32cm.
For more detail and images of their work visit www.blanthorn.com
Faceted Triangle: British Studio Glass
Brian Blanthorn and his wife Jenny have been glass makers for many years. The workshop was established in 1983 and since then they have specialised in the fusing and slumping of multilayered glass. Examples of their original style can be found in major collections throughout the world.
Inspired by patterns in nature and, in particular by the form and line of geological strata, they have perfected their techniques over time to produce works which bring out the full refractive possibilities of the glass. The pieces start out as flat sheets of glass which are coated by printing or sponging. The coated sheets are then cut into strips or pieces, stacked and then fused together. During the fusion process chemical reactions take place at each coated surface producing iridescent colours at each interface. After cooling the bulk slab can be cut, shaped and optically polished. This work, in the form of a three sided pyramid contains over 60 layers of glass, and internal reflections from the three faces enhance the optical effects.
Light shining through the piece produces amazing opalescent colours of blue, gold, yellow, pink depending on the illuminating angle and viewing angle. Slight changes of either produces a different appearance. This shot is taken front on to show the layer construction. The two darker bands at the bottom are black coated layers to echo sedimentary layers found in rock formations.
For a macro detail of the internal structure see here.
British Studio Glass: Faceted Triangle by Brian and Jenny Blanthorn. Coated flat glass, fused and slumped. Cut, shaped and optically polished. Made 2001. Height; 32cm.
For more detail and images of their work visit www.blanthorn.com