Canberra Glassworks and King O’Malleys have teamed up to design the ultimate conversation starter – and it’s recycled! Photo: King O’Malleys.
An empty gin bottle might not be your first thought for an art piece, but with elegant glass tinted a mesmerising shade of blue, Bombay Sapphire Gin created a vessel that caught Peter Barclay’s eye.
Tidying up after a busy night in his Canberra city pub, King O’Malleys, Peter found himself studying the bottles. He quickly decided they were too lovely to break and send off as recycling. Rather than wasting the beautiful blue glass, he wondered if he could upcycle it in some way.
“I’ve always admired the blue glass in Bombay Gin bottles and have been storing empty ones for several years. I was waiting for a chance to somehow upcycle them rather than just send them off as mixed recycled glass – something that would take advantage of their existing pure colour,” he says.
“This particular blue has been prized throughout history. It’s reminiscent of lapis lazuli and azurite, minerals loved by the pharaohs of Egypt and royals around the world for centuries.
“There’s just something ethereal about it that really draws you in.”
Enter the world-renowned Canberra Glassworks. Peter was thrilled to get in touch with productions and commissions manager, Jacqueline Knight, and her team of glass artists.
Jacqueline joined forces with renowned local designer and senior glassblower Katie-Ann Houghton for the project. Together they created a stunning vase design and used the Bombay Sapphire bottles to make a limited number.
Each vase is one of a kind and handmade and still shows off the gorgeous original embossing – but the final product didn’t come easily.
“At first we tried melting the glass down, but it lost a lot of its colour and was difficult to work with due to its chemical properties,” Jacqueline says.
“Katie-Ann was absolutely instrumental in creating a unique steel mould, which allows each bottle to be softened and transformed into an octagon.
“The result is our beautiful Sapphire Vases. It’s a great example of what can be done with a little innovation.”
A unique Bombay Sapphire chandelier was also commissioned by King O’Malleys using the same bottles. It is now proudly on display in the city pub’s main entry.
The vases are for sale, with all proceeds supporting local art at the Canberra Glassworks. Peter encourages everyone to check out their work – go for a tour, explore the art, or maybe join in on a course.
Jacqueline says she will ‘absolutely’ work on similar projects in future if she gets the chance.
“The beauty about this glass is it’s blue all the way through, as opposed to a blue coating, which gives it a unique glow as light moves through the vase. We often work with beer and wine bottles, but this was something extra special,” she says.
“It’s been a great opportunity to not only upcycle these bottles, but to promote the concept to other businesses and the rest of the Canberra community.
“What a wonderful outcome, to save such a beautiful material that would otherwise be thrown away!”
These stunning Sapphire Vases are now on sale at Canberra Glassworks and King O’Malleys for $220 each.
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