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19 October 2016
19
October
2016

Sampling for a Superyacht Glass Design Project

For a supercar it is not just the design but the sound of the engine, for champagne it is the taste as well as the bubbles, for fragrances it is not just the smell but the amount of time it lasts. Whether it’s a test drive, a wine tasting, or a test bottle of a fragrance; sampling is a great way to truly understand a product.

Sampling is a key component of our work at Daedalian as it allows our customers; interior designers and architects, to touch and tangibly experience our glass – seeing it first never fails to show the full characteristics that are always lost through media images. Sampling is also a cost effective way of developing a design or finish that might be innovating previous work or something completely new as changes can be made before full scale production. Our samples expose the hours of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and expert glass working knowledge that combine to make each piece of our glass daedalian.

Horseshoe crab picture for a superyacht glass design
Horseshoe crab picture for a superyacht glass design

The brief – Superyacht glass design project

Daedalian Glass Studios were recently approached with the brief of creating large ‘3D glass panels for several headboards, the theme being marine creatures. A sample glass panel was undertaken depicting a horseshoe crab lying on top of rocks on the ocean floor. If successful, the commissioned piece will be used within the interior of a superyacht.

Silicon mould of Horseshoe Crab and tail
Silicon mould of Horseshoe crab and tail

To begin the sampling process, Daedalian Glass Studios’ Founder and Creative Director Davia Walmsley first researched the subject and its form. Horseshoe crabs are not actually crabs as they are classified as chelicerates rather than a crustacean. They are known as `living fossils` and are the closest living relative to the extinct marine arthropod fossil group called Trilobites. Davia studied the anatomy of these creatures before producing a detailed drawing of a horseshoe crab to use as a template for sculpting a clay model. The clay master model was then cast in silicone to form a negative mould of the horseshoe crab and hot wax was poured into the silicone negative to form a wax positive mould. Finally, hot wax was used to glue the tail to the body as this has been created separately given its delicate size and shape.

Wax cast of Horseshoe Crab
Wax cast of Horseshoe crab

Next, stones were placed into clay and built up to form a seabed for the horseshoe crab to be placed upon. A negative silicone mould of the stone seabed was then created and fettled by Glass Technician Imogen, which was used to create a high quality positive wax mould. This positive wax casting of the crab and stones was placed within a purpose built wooden frame.

Imogen creates the negative silicone seabed mould
Imogen creates the negative silicone seabed mould
Positive wax mould of seabed
Positive wax mould of seabed
The final positive mould
The final positive mould
Working on the final positive mould
Working on the final positive mould

From this point on, we did not take pictures of the warm working production as our unique techniques are a closely guarded secret, fine-tuned through years of glass working experience. To briefly explain the next steps though, a refractory plaster mould was created from the silicon negative and this was used to cast the glass panel in the kiln.

The final negative mould
The final negative mould
The final superyacht glass design piece being polished
The final superyacht glass design piece being polished

After emerging from the kiln, the faces and edges were polished until they became transparent and smooth. Below is a (rare) short clip of Company Director Joe Walmsley working on this glass panel using various grades of polishing pads.

After a number of weeks in the studio, this sample was completed and presented to the client in a stand-alone frame with integrated lighting. This was also created in Daedalian’s studios and designed to best showcase the deep cast characteristics of the design with naturally occurring veiling and bubbles within the glass adding to the marine theme; fit for a superyacht.

Whether a sample or a full project, Daedalian Glass Studios do not just produce a piece of glass, our team can understand a brief and with our considerable experience and talent for design, create glass installations complimented by other materials, often lighting, that exceed expectations and add impact to projects. The glass installations made at Daedalian are the culmination of weeks of human labour, unique in design and hand-crafted by artisans, specialists in their field.

Daedalian Glass Studios has handled a series of luxury residential and superyacht glass design projects. If you would be interested in discussing a project with Daedalian, call +44 (0)1253 702531 or send an email to enquiries@daedalianglassstudios.com.