Ann Robinson's Glass Vessels
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Ann Robinson, Landscape Vessel, 2009, glass and lead crystal, signed, datedand title inscribed, 40 x 46.5 x 20.5 cm (widest points), Ann Robinson (b. 1944) is without doubt one of the world's leading glass artists. Her cast-glass vessels are instantly recognisable and are to be found in private and public collections throughout New Zealand and in prestigious overseas collections such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne., These two works have been made using the lost-wax method of casting which Robinson first learned as an art student working with bronze. However, she adapted the technique to casting glass and after much experimentation, she found that glass with a 45% lead crystal content produced the best results. Although lost-wax casting is an ancient technique, it was revived for casting glass in the 1920s by the legendary French glass artist, Ren Lalique (1860-1945). It is worth noting here that the vendor is also a major collector of Lalique glass., Robinson'sPlain Pod,from 1996, is cast in what the artist has called 'methylated spirits purple' ' a colour which very difficult to achieve. The shape is based on Pacific plant forms which very much locates her practice in this part of the world. Similarly,Landscape Vessel,from 2009, evokes the landscape forms that one finds in the paintings of Robin White and Colin McCahon., '[The New Zealand light] is reflected in my work. Sharp, clear, even hard, colours: strong sun yellows, yellow green forest, dark copper blue evening skies, light blue summer skies, deep blue-green seas.' Ann Robinson, 1995.
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- Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture. - Lead Crystal - The first clear glass, called cristallo was invented during the 15th century in Venice. Prior to this the glass had a slight yellow or greenish colour as a result of iron ore impurities with the glass. 'Cristallo' was heavily exported .
In 1675, while attempting to counter the Venetian dominance of the glass market, British glassmaker George Ravenscroft invented lead glass, by adding lead oxide to to replace the calcium content in glass.
The new glass he created was quicker to melt, and stayed moulten longer, making it easier to work. More importantly, it had a higher refractive index, adding to its brilliance and beauty, especially when embellished with wheel cut decoration.
Lead crystal, is variety of lead glass, with a higher percentage of lead oxide than lead glass.
Ravenscroft's patent on lead crystal expired in 1681, and more glass makers were able to take advantage of his invention. The expansion in production resulted in England to overtaking Venice as the centre of the glass industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
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