ChainWonderglass2020 & 2023

Chain makes the first conversations between Venetian glass producers WonderGlass and Bethan Laura Wood in bespoke cast glass.

Using existing rectangular donut brick moulds, Bethan interloops, interlocks and stacks these forms together to create furniture that comments on the architectural possibilities of glass.

In these pieces  yellow and clear, green and blue glass are combined together, using the subtleties of tones that build up through the layering of coloured glass to give a vibrating but delicate palate.

The interlocking or CHAIN construction is made by multiples of rectangular donut bricks, some cut into two parts and threaded through the centre of another.

The curved and polished end details of the cut brick are a nod towards the painted ends found in many Japanese wooden temples Bethan photographed during her recent travels through East Asia, with the interlocking glass components themselves referencing the amazing joinery techniques.