Waste Mussels Used to Create Thames Glass
Thames Glass Carafes and Tumblers
Thames Glass Map of Materials
Inspired by ancient glass-making processes. Lulu has been creating unique glass batch recipes from local and waste materials sourced in and around the River Thames.
These include local sand samples, waste shells, and waste wood ash or bracken from the surrounding forests which are cut down for management control.
In collaboration with the head of ecology at Thames Water, Lulu discovered a way to make use of the tonnes of quagga mussels that routinely block water pipes and cost Thames Water millions of pounds and resources to remove.
There is currently no effective way to get rid of them, with all the shell waste currently being sent to landfill. Thames Glass offers a solution for this to be used within future glass making, giving economic and ecological value to this invasive species and acting as a natural colourant for the glass.
Quagga Mussel Waste
Glass Blowers at The Glass Hub
Throughout her work, Lulu is interested in finding alternatives to the highly processed and unsustainable materials often used in glass making and creating geo-specific glass from materials which are distinctive to a certain area.
By incorporating 21st-century waste materials into glass making, these unique collections represent the idea of Future Archaeology and rethinking the way we view glass, and waste today.
Collections of these beautiful artefacts can be collected here.
CARAFE, TUMBLER AND TILE SET
The first prototypes of the Thames Glass carafe, tumbler and tile set. Exploring alternative applications for the glass in collaboration with Thames Water, Here Design, Bureau De Change, The Glass Hub, Sacha Delabre and Rosie Power.
Mould blown, Casting
Colour Source: Mussel shells
Photo credit: Ben Turner
THAMES GLASS BLUE GLASS
Hand blown
Colour source: Mussel shells
All pieces are made at The Glass Hub using the mini melt furnace, in collaboration with local glass blowers
THAMES GLASS MANGANESE GLASS
Hand blown
Colour source: Manganese
All pieces are made at The Glass Hub using the mini melt furnace, in collaboration with local glass blowers
THAMES GLASS PEARL GLASS
Hand blown
Colour source: Local sands
All pieces are made at The Glass Hub using the mini melt furnace, in collaboration with local glass blowers
THAMES GLASS GREEN GLASS
Hand blown
Colour source: Local sands
All pieces are made at The Glass Hub using the mini melt furnace, in collaboration with local glass blowers