The Echappée Aquarium by Sébastien Cordoleani and Vincent Breed

This structure was designed by Sébastien Cordoleani and built by glass artist and craftsman Vincent Breed, to invite fish to “take a breather,” extending the limitations of the usual tank or aquarium.



above two photos © Erick Saillet

The Echappée (or Extension) was created for the show 15 Designers, 15 Artisans held in Saint-Etienne in December 2010. Each pair had about 2 months to meet up, think, design and make the pieces, with only a dimension constraint of 60 x 60 x 60 cm.

above: The aquarium at the

The purpose of this project, initiated by Emilie Colin Garros, Philippine Lemaire and David des Moutis in summer 2010, was to promote a mode of creation based on the proximity and to reflect the possibility of innovation and creation in a framework where the discussion and the transmission of technical and practical knowledge are possible. It has subsequently traveled including a 2011 exhibition at the French boutique Merci during Designer's Days.




above: The aquarium at the Merci Boutique exhibit.

It is made up of a basin from which a water pipe rises into space, beyond the usual physical limits of an aquarium. By overflowing it offers new horizons to the fish and those who contemplate them. The means to achieve this being simply the application of the physical phenomena of surface tension. The bubble is the central element, a technical challenge for the glass-blower who, by blowing out and sucking in air, will give it the appearance of flowing water.

Echappée (Extension) 2005-2010
Prototype
Dimensions : basin : L 60, W 40, H 11 cm / extension : L 40, W 30 x H 40 cm
Material : glass

images courtesy of Sébastien Cordoleani , Domus, and Design Parade – villa Noailles,

Alessi Turns The Nativity Into Cutest Christmas Ornaments Ever.

I must confess I never thought I'd see a baby Jesus ornament that I thought was cute. I was wrong. Italian company Alessi has created a line of 12 new Christmas ornaments, 10 based on the old testament's Nativity scene and 2 decorative ones, that include everything from an adorable Baby Jesus to a darling Donkey.

Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, a ram, a cow, a donkey, the Three Wise Men, an Angel, an Elf, and a Shooting Star and are individually hand decorated blown glass ornaments designed by Marcello Jori for Alessi.













The 12 ornaments are available individually or as the following 4 different sets.

Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, donkey and cow:


The Three Wise Men:


Angel and Shooting Star (or Starlight):


Elf and ram:



buy all 12 of them here

or the 10 Nativity ornaments here

X-Ray and Anatomical Stained Glass Windows by Wim Delvoye

In his ongoing series of Gothic works, initiated in 1999, Belgian artist Wim Delvoye, about whose tattooed pigs I have blogged about in the past, created some very unusual stained-glass windows and sculptural works made of steel, lead, glass and actual x-rays.



For his “Chapel” series, Delvoye took x-rays of two friends performing sexual acts, then combined the x-rays with stained glass to fill the windows of a gothic-style chapel. Some of the windows simply look as though they are made of an abstract design, when upon closer inspection, one can see teeth, intestines, skulls and other anatomical features. Others are more explicit in their representation.

Here are several examples (the following images were all composited by IIHIH, please do not reproduce without linking back to this post):















In addition, several of the stained glass windows shown above also appeared in miniature in Wim's "Chapelle," 2007:



above: Stainless steel, stained glass window, electricity / Acier, inox, vitraux, électricité
10.8 x 10.0 x 5.11 Feet / 326 x 305 x 181 cm

Solo exhibitions of Wim Delvoye’s work have been organized by Castello di Rivoli (1991), Kunsthalle Nürnberg (1992), Open Air Museum Middelheim in Antwerp (1997), Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (2000), Migros Museum in Zurich (2001), Museum Kunst-Palast in Dusseldorf (2002), The Power Plant in Toronto (2004), and Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice (2009). His work has also been included in major group exhibitions such as Venice Biennale (1990, 1999, and 2009), Documenta IX (1992), Sydney Biennale (1992), Lyon Biennial (2000 and 2005), and Shanghai Biennale (2006). Delvoye lives and works in Ghent.

individual images and info courtesy of Galerie Perrotin and the artist

Wonderglass: Collaborative Modern Chandeliers By Zaha Hadid, Jaime Hayon, Nendo and Nao Tamura.

Wonderglass is a new international company with headquarters in London and in Venice, dedicated to the production of glass chandeliers, created by the best-known designers on the international scene.



Using glass and light, Wonderglass transcends the boundaries of tradition to experiment with exclusive, avant-garde working techniques resulting in the creation of bespoke items and macro-installations. The hallmarks of the company are innovation, artisanship, the magic of design and colour, versatility and originality meshed with unparalleled Italian craftsmanship. Wonderglass is a network that blends renowned Italian artisan traditions with the vision of famed designers of our times, such as Zaha Hadid and Jaime Hayon.

Wonderglass embraces the traditional technique of glass-blowing, using its special recipe to transform it into a sensual, innovative product: though focusing firmly on contract and project it has not forgotten the world of limited editions.



For the official launch of the brand, Wonderglass in Milan drew upon the time-honoured experience of Venetian master glass-blowers and the contemporary touch offered by artists and designers of international renown, capable of interpreting the beauty of glass in a spectacular, innovative manner paired with the most advanced technological research on lighting.

The Wonderglass products showcased at the 2013 “Salone del Mobile” trace an imaginary journey through Venice, reflections of light are multiplied on the waters of the lagoon, while unexpected shapes amaze with their intricate creativity. Jaime Hayon stages a contemporary carnival with traditional masks, Nao Tamura encounters a multitude of buoys floating on the horizon while Nendo (Collaboration Bisazza–Wonderglass) uses light to describe the appearance of shadows lurking behind the hidden corners of Venetian “calle”, whereas Zaha Hadid (Collaboration Established & Sons–Wonderglass) creates a flock of crystals. Wonderglass chandeliers transport us into a fantastic, enchanted world of marvels.



Thanks to the work of an audacious creative network of artists and designers combined to the longstanding expertise, Wonderglass is able to satisfy all your dreams by bespoke pieces and outstanding creations.

Wonderglass is a unique and necessary actor for a bespoke business in particular where both the glass as a material and the project itself require high level of technical skills.

Flow[T] by Nao Tamura





The reflections of the Venetian cityscape glistening on the evening water hints at an imaginary city below the moving surface. There is a border between the world under and the land above. In the city of Venice, where the real world and fantasy coexists, this chandelier is the embodiment of the beauty of dual worlds.

‘Flow[T]‘ is a contemporary chandelier inspired by the colours of the Venetian lagoon and customised to the desires of each owner. Each piece enjoys its own shape, and in multiples, they create a sculptural display of lighting.

Designer Nao Tamura:


Product Specifications:
Light Emission - Direct
Dimensions:
S1: Ø257mm, H240mm
S2: Ø110mm, H153mm
S3: Ø98mm, H454mm
S4: Ø210mm, H448mm
Materials: Blown Glass
Colours: White, Blue/Green

Black Bat by Oki Sato of Nendo, a Collaboration between Bisazza and Wonderglass




A chandelier reminiscent of a colony of bats hanging upside-down from a tree branch or the ceiling of a cave. Evenly-spaced glass shades blown by Murano glass artisans enclose LEDs, and cast their light downwards. Bases can be connected to create a large colony, or removed to make a smaller one.

Designer Oki Sato:


Product Specifications:
Light Emission - Direct
Dimensions:
S1: 6 Lights Ø600mm
S2: 10 Lights Ø900mm
S3: 14 Lights Ø1100mm
S4: 18 Lights Ø1400mm

Materials: Blown Glass and Stainless Steel
Color: Black
Bespoke dimensions and colour variations can be specified.

Masquerade by Jaime Hayon




Subdued yet playful. A collection of characters inspired by the masquerade ball, the new chandelier from Jaime Hayon nods to Venetian heritage, the epicenter of glass artistry. The colour palette is understated, setting up a contrast to the lively menagerie, while subtle variations create visual interest and depth.

Designer Jaime Hayon:


Product Specifications:
Light Emission - Direct
Materials: Blown Glass
Colours: Amber

Swarm Chandelier by Zaha Hadid, a Collaboration between Established & Sons and Wonderglass





The Swarm Chandelier is a composition of black crystal volumes suspended in dynamic forms. The intricately layered spatial composition of the chandelier presents itself as a unified whole; it does not presuppose any proportional system, nor does it privilege symmetry.

Designer /architect Zaha Hadid:


Product Specifications:
Light Emission - Projected
Dimensions:
L: 2500 x 2400mm, Maximum Height: 4000mm
Materials: 16000 Crystals
Colours: Black
Bespoke dimensions and colour variations can be specified.



Wonderglass