Fused Glass Platter by Maori Boy - Kawakawa Design 20cm (black and white)

Glass Platter

Original design by Maori Boy Glassware - a modern interpretation of traditional NZ-kiwi & Maori design.

Each piece is designed to be a work of art, while still being functional and robust enough to be used day-to-day.

20cm x 20cm 

Kawakawa Design:

This is a popular design with Ngapuhi Maori; it's been adapted here to depict a leaf from the Kawakawa shrub.

The Kawakawa is used as a medicine for a wide range of illnesses. A type of tonic when brewed as a tea. It has a very bitter taste when eaten straight from the shrub.

Technique:

The technique of 'fusing and slumping' sandwiches a design of "onglaze powder" between two pieces of clear glass, which is then fused together at high temperature. The transparency of the top layer lends the design depth and enhances the vibrancy of each colour. Low fire “glaze” is traditionally used by ceramists as a ‘second’ firing over underglaze on fired pots. Low fire glaze will fire into glass using a very careful firing process aided by a 'proprietary formular' of frits and additives to promote compatibility, stability of the fusing process, and to enhance the vibrancy of the colours. The glaze is used ‘dry’ and not in a liquid form.