img.0 Photograph by Phil Cuttance.
Each of Cuttance's Herringbone objects is handmade from Jesmonite – a composite material that combines plaster and cement with water-based resin. To achieve a textured surface, the London-based designer made a set of patterned resin moulds. This pattern was first created on paper, before being projected onto a flat plastic sheet. The plastic sheet is then cut and pleated according to the pattern – forming a flat mould that is then folded into the desired shape. Cuttance then manually shapes this casting into each of the objects' individual forms.
img.1 Photography is by Martina Lang.
img.2 Photography is by Martina Lang.
The final vases are cast in cement that has been coloured with pigments to create each of the seven different finishes. These include sage green, taupe, dark blue, brick red, white marble, grey marble, and granite. Each piece is then given a laser-etched cork base, branded with the object's name and number, emphasising their handmade quality.
img.3 Photography is by Martina Lang.
By making each object by hand, the designer hopes to set his pieces apart from the identical, mass-produced objects on the market. "Almost any shape is achievable now using CNC and 3D-printing technologies, and these shapes can be made to be almost perfect," said Cuttance. "These technologies definitely have their place in design and craft, but I think their increasing ubiquity makes the truly handmade more valuable. I like to create objects that initially appear initially to be made using these technologies, but a closer inspection reveals that they aren't perfect, and are clearly handmade, as revealed by their imperfections. I like to invest time and effort into developing handmade processes that encourage this confusion," he added.
img.4 Photography is by Martina Lang.
Jesmonite – awarded Material of the Year at London's 2017 Design Fair – has become increasingly popular with designers, including Zuza Mengham and YenChen YaWen Studio who have used it to make angular sculptures and vases that oxidise and change colour as they age.
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