Backhaus Brown and Egeværk
Backhaus Brown and Egeværk
The maritime history of Hundested and the imagery of Viking ships passing have inspired two of the harbour’s contemporary craft companies; cabinetmakers Egeværk and glass artist Backhaus & Brown. These two award-winning workshops have combined their masterful crafts in an innovative collaboration; namely a series of sculptures named ”Glasskibe” – Viking ships in glass and wood.
First the Glass
The hulls are made of glass – first shaped by hand and mouth and then ground by means of an ancient Italian technique called “Battuto”. These extraordinary patterns are reminiscent of how the Viking ship planks used to be crafted.
The process requires masterful glasswork and implies that two hulls can never be the same.
The hulls of the viking ships are created by glass artists Nanna Bachaus Brown and Andrew Jason Brown in their magnificent workshop in Hundested. The challenging “Battuto” technique is Andrew’s specialty.
Then the Wood
When the hull is finished, a meticulous collaboration between the glass artists and the cabinetmakers from Egeværkbegins.
As every hull is unique, every keel has to be constructed accordingly. Careful drafting and fitting is required for each ship. The keels are made of oak – a must in maritime crafts due to its hardy nature. The strong wood is carefully handled until completely perfect and smooth as silk. At the end of the process the hull and the keel are joined, and the ship is being ground and polished for the last time.
The details vary from ship to ship – as does the overall expression of each ship.