GAUGE
STORY
 

Gauge

    Borosilicate Glass.
Mouth-blown and free formed by hand in the UK, without the use of moulds.

Something is lost when we bring flowers indoors. The flowers are no longer animated by a breeze because the vase holds them rigid. The flowers cannot properly wilt when they are dying because the vase keeps them straight.

The Gauge Vase takes on the behaviour of the flower. The weight of the water holds the vase upright. The vase ‘wilts’ as the flower drinks the water, letting us know that it needs watering.

The intention was to design a shape that would contain liquid and, as the quantity of liquid reduced, it would lean over autonomously, without the intervention of a person.

It was important for the viewer to understand that there is no trickery. The use of glass shows that there is no mechanical method to the leaning...

Like any vase, the Gauge Vase can be knocked over. Unlike any other vase, the Gauge Vase will spring back up. It is designed for leaning and swaying and will return to where it best balances - upright when fully watered, tilting when thirsty.

The narrow neck limits the number of flowers so it does not over-balance.

The vase can pirouette and dance. It invites people to play... because the water moves inside - sometimes following, sometimes leading the sway of the glass - an irregular movement is created, reminiscent of flowers dancing in a breeze.

Selected as 'Best of Show', by Sally Davies of Mix magazine at Pulse 2013.

Featured in Monocle.