I first made a fusion cast centerpiece in 1998. I was always frustrated when you had flowers on a table you couldn’t see who you were eating with, so I decided to make a glass centerpiece to float flowers in. It was the most successful idea I have had. I sold so many I couldn’t keep count. Sold many to go under my chandeliers. I would use the same bronze on welded steel for the base as the chandeliers and it would make a great look. I would transition the colors from blue to green, or green to blue or amethyst to blue.

Making the mold with welded stainless steel. I used refractories for lining the molds so the castings were easy to remove. My first centerpiece was done with just kiln wash on the stainless steel and it was locked in for weeks. With water it finally released. Using the refractories was a learning process, but well worth it. There are many products being used by glass artists from the furnace industry, Mold Mix 6 being particularly useful.