Japanese design studio nendo in collaboration with WonderGlass has presented the Shape of Gravity exhibition showcasing a cast glass furniture and tabletop collection called Melt.
Presented at Istituto dei Ciechi as part of Milan Design Week 2019, the Melt collection features pieces such as an armchair, chaise longue, dining table, side table, vase and more. The exhibition also includes the launch of a cast glass chandelier.
Creating the Melt furniture collection by pouring molten glass into a square frame, WonderGlass craftsmen proceed to even out the surface using iron trowels. Gradually cooling the glass until it reaches a certain pliancy, the glass is then moved and placed onto a U-shaped mould. Utilizing the viscosity of the glass, the arches and curves are created by slowly sinking and stretching the glass with its own weight.
“I was inspired by looking at the workshops, looking at the people working, using the melted material,’ said nendo founder Oki Sato. “The main idea was to let the glass flow by itself using gravity and using the weight of glass itself. In a way, doing less and achieving more is the most complicated thing to do.”
“I think flat surface glass stretched by the hands of craftsmen is beautiful,” noted Oki. “I discovered the beauty of glass when I saw that the plate-like glass created a beautiful arch by its own weight, when lifted by a number of craftsmen.”
“I wanted to combine those beautiful flat surfaces with curves to design this collection,” added Oki.
