Spinning Glass Sculpture Set Uses Centrifugal Force

Fascinating twirling vase set influenced by gravity.

Set of 3 rolling vases in three sizes. These vases are elliptical and weighted. When spun they are powered by centrifugal force.  The base is a pointed dome.

They spin longer without water.  We've used very large sunflowers in water in the images below to help show size. The large vase measures 8" tall, 8" at widest, widest girth of 23", weighs 2.75 lbs. The medium vase measures 8.5" tall, 6" at widest, widest girth of 18", weighs 2 lbs.. The small vase measures 6.5" tall, 5.5" at widest with a girth of 16", weighs 1 lb.

Made of slumped plate glass. No seams.  Plate glass is traditionally flat.  It was heated in the furnace and shaped.  The temperature required to bend and shape the glass depends on its thickness and much skill is required to do it right. This vase set is of contemporary make, est. 1980 to present.

All in excellent condition.  The rims are elliptical (thickness varies), probably having to do with the gravity (centrifugal force) feature.

Maker and age is unknown at this time.  A contemporary studio artist named Nicholas Kekic works with gravity and form in glass.  Kekic designed a decanter that uses the same principle as this set.  Quote by Kekic "I think of glass as a liquid that is frozen to room temperature in a controlled and sometimes precarious balancing act of heat, gravity, timing and human intervention." Nicholas Kekic is a third generation glassmaker. His grandfather was an industrial glassmaker and his father was one of the founders of the American studio art glass movement.

Another maker possibility is Bert Frijns, a contemporary artist born in the Netherlands. His glass sculpture incorporates plate glass slumping and gravity effects.

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