Diatomée Nearly Black

Diatomée by the Parisian duo of interior architects, Garnier & Linker, is an exclusive edition by Spazio Nobile. Diatomée Sculpture Vases appear like diatoms that are single-celled algae living in houses made of glass. Inspired by these light-absorbing molecules which are the only organism on the planet with cell walls composed of transparent, opaline silica, they are ornamented by intricate and striking patterns of silica. On earth, diatoms are bringing us up to 50% of our oxygen and also feed the oceans, lakes and rivers. Since 2020, Spazio Nobile has initiated artistic collaborations and projects around Diatomée with floral and ikebana artists.

When the kiln is brought up to temperature (800 degrees Celsius /1450- 1530 degrees Fahrenheit), the glass chunks melt and flow down into the mold. The lost wax process is very old and derives from a process for shaping bronze. The original shape is moulded in foundry wax, then covered with clay which becomes an external mould. When everything is annealed, the mould hardens and the wax, by melting, is eliminated through a conical dripping hole made in the covering. The space left free by the ‘lost’ wax is filled in with molten glass, which assume the form of the wax mould. The wax can even be eliminated by evaporation.