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PAUL HARRISON DESIGN |
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The choice of a wide range of materials in house and personal contact with other specialist craftsmen provides useful flexibility. I can work in both precious and base metals, and the following is a brief introduction to the wide choice of materials that can be used. Click on * to see examples of this material used in the portfolio. Precious and base metals (Sterling Silver, Silver Plate, Gold Plate, Bronze), Glass, Acrylic, Wood, Stone, Leather and Plastics can be used.
This is the traditional material. Hallmarked Sterling silver is the ultimate choice where prestige is the intention. It can often present good value for money as a small item in silver can represent sophistication where a larger item in base material might be considered brash. It is possibly the only material in use where one can be assured that it will never be discarded by the recipient. In order to reduce costs it is possible to combine silver with other materials although it should be noted that these should be non-metallic in order to comply with the Hall marking laws.This is visually the same as sterling silver, (although purists might disagree), but cannot be hallmarked. Base material is usually brass or copper. It is much less expensive as a material than sterling silver, except perhaps on a small scale. The base material is readily available in a wide range of forms. Otherwise known as Gilding this can be applied to both sterling silver and silver plate. It can give a particularly rich quality, especially when contrasted with areas of plain silver. It is particularly appropriate where cleaning may be a problem as under normal circumstances it will not discolour. Gilding is often used to differentiate the premier award or "first prize" among a group of awards. Bronze and other Base Materials The use of bronze and copper alloys can be effective where a sense of solidity or permanence is required. They have a dark metallic sheen when chemically treated which contrasts well with brighter materials such as polished silver and gold. Designs can be sandblasted onto glass. Very deep sandblasting can provide a low relief when viewed in reverse. A photographic image can be transferred to the glass surface. The glass panel can be curved by heating and bending in a mould. Glass in manufactured form, (bowls, decanters, etc), can be purchased for mounting in silver or plate. The production of such items of glass as "specials" has proved prohibitively expensive so far. The use of silver/plate and glass can be very effective especially when aiming for a modern or high-tech image within the scope of traditionally valued materials. The main disadvantage of glass is that it breaks when dropped. To save last minute embarrassment it is advisable to have a spare! Clear Acrylic (Perspex) is visually similar to glass. In many ways it is more flexible material than glass, it does not break, it is available in a wide range of thicknesses, and is easily machined and polished to provide interesting effects. It is also possible to embed delicate items. Although the material should not be dismissed, its use in prestige items is not always appropriate. This is because it is much over used at the cheaper end of the special trophy market. When compared to glass it has a rather soft greasy feel. It is much loved by graphic designers who specify silk screen printing and see it as a short route to three dimensions. (This is, of course, the view of an embittered three dimensional designer!)A vast number of fine woods are available and these are very appropriate for prestige items as they have a high perceived value. In recent years much adverse publicity has attended the use of tropical hardwoods. This is largely misinformed but my supplier is nonetheless able to provide details of his sources which are renewable. As a natural material, wood will expand and contract no matter how well seasoned, and this can provide problems when used in conjunction with more stable materials such as metal. It is possible to design to minimise this problem, in some cases using veneers laminated to a man made core instead of solid wood. Stone can be very attractive when contrasted with other materials. Silver and Westmoreland Green Slate has been used with success. It is heavy which can be an advantage for reasons of stability but this also restricts the volume which can be used if the object is to be a one-hand lift. Working of stone is restricted to sawing drilling and turning so the shapes used tend to be basically geometric. It can be deeply sandblast for decorative effect and the application of text and logos. Although a flexible material not unlike fabric in its natural state, leather can be pared thinly and bonded to a rigid substrate. In this form it becomes a hard precise material with an excellent surface quality and high perceived value. It is available in a very wide range of colours. This makes it particularly appropriate where colour needs to be introduced into a design. Common alternatives, paint or plastic, do not have the same prestige quality. Leather is a natural material so a precise colour cannot be guaranteed. It has nonetheless been used with success to introduce corporate colours into a design. Some engineering plastics can be attractive and useful in small quantities. For multiples the use of resin castings can also be appropriate. The DuPont material Corian, which is a mineral filled acrylic, may be particularly appropriate in this field and some work is currently being done in this material.
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