LIULI employs a refined technique known as pâte de verre in its crystal glass art production. This intricate process begins with the artist's sketches, which are transformed into clay sculpture prototypes. A refractory mold is meticulously crafted by enveloping a wax model with fire-resistant plaster. Once the plaster sets, the wax is heated until it liquefies and is drained away. The resulting mold is then filled with vibrant glass ingredients. This method offers the advantage of capturing minute details in the final artworks, thereby enhancing the artist's ability to express their unique vision. Pâte de verre requires meticulous attention to detail, as the slightest error can result in cracking, irregular air bubbles, or the introduction of impurities. The procedure consists of the following 12 steps.
Pâte de verre
LIULI KNOW-HOW
01
Design and Sculpting
The initial step involves creating a detailed design and sculpting the model from wax or clay, paying close attention to intricate details.
02
Silicone molding
Five to seven layers of silicone mold are applied to the original sculpture to capture its precise form.
03
Infusion of molten wax
Remove the silicone molding to get a negative space. Molten wax is poured into the silicone mold, filling it completely to replicate the original sculpture.
04
Shedding of silicon mold to obtain the wax form
Once the wax has cooled and solidified, the silicone mold is carefully removed, leaving behind the wax replica.
05
Wax form refinement; removing imperfections
The wax form is refined and any imperfections are meticulously removed to ensure a flawless final piece.
06
Coating the wax sculpture with fire-resistant plaster to form a refractory mold
The wax sculpture is coated with layers of plaster to create a refractory mold around it.
07
Removal of wax with steam
The plaster mold containing the wax sculpture is heated with steam, causing the wax to melt and drain out, leaving behind a hollow cavity in the plaster.
08
Choosing color; kiln firing
Color choices are made from the original artist’s vision, and the plaster mold and crystal glass art ingredients are fired in a kiln to harden it.
09
Re-firing at 1,400 degrees Celsius (2,500 Fahrenheit)
The artist delicately placed it in the kiln, where the intense heat would fuse the colors and textures into a stunning masterpiece.
10
Removal of plaster mold
Once the mold has cooled, it is carefully broken away to reveal the crystal glass art inside.
11
Retouching of details; burnishing and polishing
The artwork is carefully inspected, and any necessary retouching of details is performed before the final stages of burnishing and polishing to achieve a desired artistic expression.
12
Final inspection; engraving limited edition number and packaging
The completed piece undergoes a final inspection to ensure quality standards are met, and if applicable, a limited edition number is engraved before packaging.
During the 19th century glass artisans in France revived the lost-wax casting technique used in ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago, which subsequently became a major element of the Art Nouveau style, leading to a new wave of interest in glass art throughout Europe. Archeological evidence indicates that this technique was widely used by Chinese artisans during the Han dynasty (202 BC–220 AD), but was unfortunately not handed down by later generations. This ancient technique was revived in 1987 by LIULI, and is currently being used by over one hundred workshops in Asia.