More about Ship Vase, 2018
The pot-pourri vase in the shape of a masted ship is arguably the most famous model made by the Sèvres manufactory, and was copied by several English and Continental factories. It is one of three in the Waddesdon Manor collection of the ten known to exist today.
I was attracted to this exuberant vase partly because of the enormous skill required to create such pieces and also the brutal scene, illustrating what is thought to be French and Prussian soldiers in close combat. The decoration is in sharp contrast to the usual floral or bucolic scenes found on most Sèvres ceramics.
To create an interpretation the first stage was to 3D scan the vase, a process, which captures 3-dimensional forms as data, which can then be reshaped using 3D CAD software. The next stage, using a combination of sketchbook, Photoshop and Rhino CAD software was to draw a selection of forms commonly found on Sèvres ceramics. In addition I have secreted an image of C21st weaponry. These were used to laboriously ‘pierce’ the virtual pot-pourri vase, in order to create an interpretation that has required the development over many years of new skills, combined with traditional making and finishing skills.
After the intense and time consuming development of the design the data was then checked and sliced into thousands of 0.08mm layers by specialist software and the piece was 3D printed, slowly building each layer of material, in this particular case, nylon, until the piece was complete. It was then hand finished and 24ct gold leaf applied to enhance some of the pierced decoration.
