Erklez: The Use Of Glass Stones For Decoration. How Are They Made? Examples In Landscape Design

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

Since ancient times, lumpy glass, or in other words, erklez, has been used by artists and sculptors in stained glass art and mosaics .… At first, these were not specially made colored glass pieces, but fragments of ordinary thick glass that were found in glassmaking waste. Later, when Erklez began to gain popularity, it began to be specially made. Even the transparent shard itself is dazzlingly beautiful under the rays of the sun. And if you collect several of them in a mosaic pattern, there will be a work of art at all.

How are they made?

There are several options for making glass stones

• Free forming . To do erklesis in this way, you need to have sufficient skills in working with glass.
• Grinding or punching . Pieces of finished glass are cut with special shapes with diamond tips. The raw web does not have to be solid - glass waste is sometimes used. Erklez is a piece of glass with multiple chipped edges. Therefore, a final cut is required.
• Form casting . For forming pieces of glass, both a whole and a split mold can be used. It can be made of ceramic or plaster, as well as metal. Gypsum can be disposable. The ingredients for making glass are poured into a special container. It is melted at high temperatures and then the finished glass melt is poured into the tooling. After complete cooling, they are removed from the mold and processed with tools with diamond and victorious tips.

The type of production does not affect the characteristics of the finished product . When choosing, they are guided only by color, cut and size. To give the glass color, various oxides are added to the composition. For example, to obtain a green glass stone, copper oxide and chromium oxide are added to the charge in certain proportions. And for a blue color, cobalt oxide is added. As already stated, Erkles can be waste from glass production.

It is quite possible to purchase it at a glass factory, where it is not a finished product, but unnecessary residues that appear in the process of making solid glass or glass products.

Peculiarities

Erklez as a decorative material has many distinctive characteristics

1. Doesn't require any special care. To keep the structure filled with glass stones clean and well-groomed, you just need to rinse it with water. Does not need protection from fungi, mold and other damage.
2. Affordable and economical. Making lump glass is a fairly easy task. It does not require large financial costs.
3. Resistant to temperature changes. Does not change its properties and appearance from weather conditions.
4. Environmentally friendly material. Made from recycled glass. Does not emit harmful substances.
5. Unique durability. Items made from this material have durability, beauty and versatility.
6. Monolithic structure that is resistant to weathering.
7. High density and bright color compared to natural stone.
8. A wide range of colors and a unique shape.
9. Good light transmission. Due to its transparency, it looks very nice with LED backlighting. Refracts light rays like precious stones thanks to chipped edges.
10. High hardness compared to other materials.
11. Chemically inert. Does not react with other substances. Resistant to aggressive environments.
12. Used for recycling. If in the process of implementing an idea something went wrong with this material, you can always try again.

Where are they used?

Erklez comes in different factions. Depending on the size, glass stones are used in different types of art . And also in some industries.

In stained glass

These are paintings created from pieces of glass. They are used as partitions, in door and window openings. Stained glass can be made by yourself. This will require:

• frame made of wood or metal;
• finished sketch on paper;
• wire or reinforcement;
• color pigment and cement mortar;
• plastic clips.

Thick paper with a sketch applied to it is inserted into the frame. Then, on the plastic clamps with the help of fittings, the erklez is laid in the desired artistic order. Then, a colored cement composition is poured into the openings between the glass.

For making mosaics

This is a picture composed of various small pieces. Can be made of any material, including glass . Stained glass can also be attributed to the types of mosaics. Mosaic can be used not only as openings and partitions. But also as a separate piece of furniture, as well as wall and floor decoration.

In interior decor

They are widely used for various types of finishes . They are used to decorate household items, furniture, things. Glass stone can be used as an independent item in a home setting. For example, as a souvenir.

As filling for gabions

Gabion is a metal mesh frame filled with various types of materials … These can be natural and artificial stones, fragments of bricks and clay shards, and even logs. For decor in gabions, separate erklez inserts can be added, which creates a unique look. And if you add LED lighting between the glass stones, a fabulously beautiful interior detail will appear in the setting.

Glass stones are an interesting detail for gabions . They help gabions perform the lighting function, since light passes through them well. Gabions are completely made of natural stone, not everyone can buy because of their high cost.

The use of erklez inserts significantly reduces the cost of these designs.

In architecture

Glass stones are used in the construction of columns, decoration of building facades . These are far from all the options for using erkles. For example, it is used to create jewelry, as well as to decorate the infield.

Examples in landscape design

The use of lumpy glass in the area around the house is limited only by the imagination of decorators. It is used in various designs for decoration. Here are some ideas for how to use it.

1. Decorating a variety of flower beds and green spaces.
2. As inserts or full-fledged filling of gabions.
3. In the upholstery of garden furniture.
4. In the design of pools, fountains, ponds.
5. Material for the construction of garden sculptures and flowerpots.
6. Glass pebbles are used to create unnatural beaches. They also fill decorative streams and reservoirs with it.
7. In the edging of paths, sidewalks and terraces.

Glass stones are versatile, durable in various weather conditions and durable material . They can be purchased in various colors and sizes, using for the most original ideas. They are non-toxic and environmentally friendly, which allows them to be used in areas where children can be and play.

It is also a good alternative for those who cannot or do not want to use natural stone.