Waveform: Spotify music code glass art

MATERIALS: Fused glass

This Waveform fused glass art panel is made of 130 individual pieces of Spectrum 96 Art Glass, three times the amount of pieces I'd normally use for a work this size.

To perfectly match the Spotify code requires particularly intricate measuring, cutting & grinding of the many pieces. For this reason, the item costs more than an equivalent glass art piece.

Each piece is individually ground until they all fit together perfectly.

The pieces are then placed in a specialised glass kiln, with a clear layer of glass on top. They are fused at 800ºC to create a single 6mm thick piece of flat glass. This takes around 16 hours.

Once cooled, this flat piece is then burnished with polishing pads.
I then add stringers - thin strips of glass that sit on the surface to add another layer of depth and interest. Again it’s kiln-fused overnight for a fire polish.

At each firing stage, the glass is annealed and cooled overnight for maximum strength and durability.

While the production process is painstaking and lengthy, it's the only way to get the wonderful finished look of glass art.

After working on a series of bowls that looked like waveforms, or audio waves, many people asked me if I could make one that was a Spotify code - so it would play a song when scanned.

This is the result - it's a completely unique panel, designed and produced by me - that plays a song!

During the glass fusing, small air bubbles can appear and become trapped within the glass. This is a natural occurrence that adds to the beauty of handmade glass products.

Please note: I cannot guarantee that the music will play. The panel needs to be positioned against a light wall, with even lighting - strong shadows may affect whether it scans correctly. Also, the music may be removed from the catalog at any time.

But - it looks absolutely beautiful even if it doesn't play!

Even the strongest glass can break, so please handle your panel with care.

When needed, dust it with a lint-free cloth, or wipe with a soft, damp cloth. Don't use an abrasive cleaner as this could scratch it.

Because of the handmade nature of glass, please don’t put it in a dishwasher.