Fused glass strip-cut patterned decorative dish, amber waves

This beautiful fused glass dish has been made using the strip construction technique, whereby strips of glass are hand-cut to precise lengths and packed tightly together on edge. The strips are cut from opaque cream and transparent amber and turquoise art glass. It has a substantial chunky feel and semi-transparent appearance and measures 30 x 17cm with a maximum height of 3cm. Looks great as a display item on a white surface. Construction notes: The strip-cut technique involves precisely cutting a large number of narrow strips of glass, in contrasting colours, and packing them tightly together on edge. Placing the glass on edge is what gives the finished item its chunky, substantial appearance. There is a LOT of glass in this dish for its size - 117 strips in three colours and eight lengths, all of which were cut by hand and stacked on edge, and incorporating open spaces, which the neighbouring glass flows into during the fusing process. it is important that the strips are cut precisely to size and then placed accurately so that the pattern flows correctly. The pice was fused at 815°C, which results in the beautiful merging together of the strips. The resulting blank was then cold worked to finesse the edges, placed over a ceramic mould and fired again at a lower temperature to give the final shape. Final photos show the construction process for a similar dish underway.