Cut Glass

Heritage

Traditional

Glass sculpture with yellow and amber components. These components have grenade pattern cut into the surface with a miter diamond wheel mounted on a lath

Material

Composite
Glass

Craft

Glass-making

General Technique

Constructing
Forming and shaping
Surface modifying

Specific Technique

Cold worked glass - cutting

Properties & Qualities

Application

Sculpture Art

Colour

Yellow Earth Colour Grey

Sample Information

Date of creation

2019

Dimensions

70 x 110 x 70mm

Weight

1kg

Culture & Context

My work has evolved through my research of how women’s positions in Western society have been constructed through concepts of female empowerment, objectification and suppression.

I have contextualised these ideas with the use of iconography, symbolism and textual materials, each denoting specific male and female societal roles.

This material both amalgamates and juxtaposes the traditionally gendered elements of weaponry and cosmetics

Process & Production

The basic shape of the grenade was blown in the hotshop using tools such as a pipe and jacks. Topaz yellow colour was melted on the surface in a gradient. Once the desired shape and size was achieved the component was gradually cooled down in a kiln. In the cold shop, the grenade shape was cut in half using a diamond saw.

The cut surfaces were ground flat and smooth using a flatbed and silicon carbide grit. The two components were marked up with a grenade pattern using a wax pencil. Then the pattern was cut using a miter shaped diamond wheel. The diamond wheel is mounted in a spindle and inserted into a lathe which rotates at a very high speed.

A water feed flows onto the surface of the diamond wheel to keep it cool and avoid cracking the glass. The smooth diamond wheel leaves a sharp opaque finish on the glass. The cut surfaces were then polished using a range of polishing wheels, cork-wheels and pumice. Finally all the sculpture components were cold constructed using UV glue and epoxy glue.

Credits

Craft Maker

Sinéad Brennan

Library Contributor

National College of Art & Design Ireland

Photographer

Sinéad Brennan Philip Lauterbach

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