Măiestria și meșteșugul Swarovski
Title:Elefantul Fayola - un exemplar maiestuos
Subtitle:
Colecția Swarovski Crystal Society (SCS) își îndreaptă din nou atenția către câmpiile întinse ale savanei africane. Anul acesta, sursa noastră de inspirație este cel mai mare mamifer terestru de pe Pământ - elefantul african. Haideți să vedem cum a fost adusă la viață, cu ajutorul cristalelor, magnifica Fayola.
Paznicii savanelor africane
Title:
Există oare vreun animal care inspiră mai multă admirație și evocă mai multă măreție decât elefantul african? Având o înălțime cuprinsă între 2,5 și 4 metri și o greutate cuprinsă între 2,5 și 7 tone, acest animal magnific are o prezență impunătoare care îi face chiar și pe lei și gheparzi să se retragă din calea sa.
Fiind o specie-cheie, elefanții africani sunt elemente esențiale ale ecosistemului din care fac parte. În timp ce turmele cutreieră ținuturile africane, aceștia împrăștie semințe și creează cărări pentru animalele mai mici care astfel se pot deplasa mai ușor printre tufișuri. În perioada secetoasă, elefanții își folosesc colții impunători și trompele flexibile pentru a săpa în albiile râurilor și pentru a scoate din rădăcini puieți și copaci. Astfel, elefanții creează oaze în miniatură pentru turma lor și pentru alte specii de animale și afânează pământul pentru alte animale care trăiesc în zonele de câmpie.
Fiind o specie-cheie, elefanții africani sunt elemente esențiale ale ecosistemului din care fac parte. În timp ce turmele cutreieră ținuturile africane, aceștia împrăștie semințe și creează cărări pentru animalele mai mici care astfel se pot deplasa mai ușor printre tufișuri. În perioada secetoasă, elefanții își folosesc colții impunători și trompele flexibile pentru a săpa în albiile râurilor și pentru a scoate din rădăcini puieți și copaci. Astfel, elefanții creează oaze în miniatură pentru turma lor și pentru alte specii de animale și afânează pământul pentru alte animale care trăiesc în zonele de câmpie.
In addition to their great size, African elephants are impressive for their human-like behavior. They are extremely sociable animals and often stay within the same family unit for their whole life. Calves swing their trunks around wildly until their parent teaches them how to use it, and when a herd member dies, the others grieve and often return to the spot of the loved one’s death as if to pay their respects.
These spectacular creatures are matriarchal, too. Herds are often female-heavy with the biggest and oldest elephant serving as the leader and a surrogate grandmother to many in the herd. Elephant Fayola, meaning “the one who walks with honor”, was modeled after one of these great maternal leaders, ever watchful over her family.
Gentle giants, these elephants are impressive caretakers of the African plains. They preside over their home like a loving parent, ensuring a healthy, prosperous environment for their decendents and the land and animals that surround them. With this year’s Elegance of Africa SCS Annual Edition 2022 Elephant Fayola, this same majestic presence will radiate throughout your home.
These spectacular creatures are matriarchal, too. Herds are often female-heavy with the biggest and oldest elephant serving as the leader and a surrogate grandmother to many in the herd. Elephant Fayola, meaning “the one who walks with honor”, was modeled after one of these great maternal leaders, ever watchful over her family.
Gentle giants, these elephants are impressive caretakers of the African plains. They preside over their home like a loving parent, ensuring a healthy, prosperous environment for their decendents and the land and animals that surround them. With this year’s Elegance of Africa SCS Annual Edition 2022 Elephant Fayola, this same majestic presence will radiate throughout your home.
The masterful designer Martin Zendron took on the challenge of translating the African elephant’s mighty stature into fine Swarovski crystal. To accomplish this, he captured the essence of the elephant by calling to mind images of this mesmerizing giant ambling through yellow sawgrass, slowly making its way to a watering hole, unaffected by the obstacles ahead. He then realized it in a captivating new Greige colored crystal.
Watch the video to see Elephant Fayola’s creation
Step 1: Research and sketches
Zendron began his work by immersing himself in the world of the African elephant. He read extensively, watched documentaries, and listened to African music often using three computer screens; one for working and the other two for setting the perfect mood to understand Elephant Fayola. Ultimately, he gleaned the most inspiration from Tanzania and the Serengeti.
While designing Elephant Fayola, Zendron also kept in mind how the elephant would become part of a cohesive collection. He chose to depict the gentle giant mid-stride, symbolizing her continuous stroll across the African savanna, protecting both the landscape and her infants: “Elephants look out for each other, they protect their young and they always keep an eye on them,” he says. “Visually, it was important that the elephants looked like they were wandering.”
Step 2: Rough sculptural modeling
Using digital computer modeling, Zendron then worked on converting his sketches into a three-dimensional representation. He experimented with different leg, trunk, and tusk positions until he settled on a pose that perfectly captured the grand African elephant’s essence.
Step 3: Design model
Once a final design was chosen, Zendron worked with product developers to optimize the angles of the facets to ensure the masterpiece would capture the elephant’s majesty as well as Swarovski crystal’s beauty. When they were satisfied, Elephant Fayola boasted 822 facets and a resin replica was produced.
Step 4: Handmade prototype
Elegance of Africa SCS Annual Edition 2022 Elephant Fayola finally paraded into life as a hand-cut and polished prototype. Although the color Greige had never been used for such a large figurine, Zendron chose it because he felt it was the closest color to the elephant’s iconic skin. The exterior was further enhanced with Marron and Satin effects to enhance every angle of its silhouette and the spine was steamed to give the illusion of sand across the animal’s back, which it uses to protect itself from the sun.
Watch the video to see Elephant Fayola’s creation
Step 1: Research and sketches
Zendron began his work by immersing himself in the world of the African elephant. He read extensively, watched documentaries, and listened to African music often using three computer screens; one for working and the other two for setting the perfect mood to understand Elephant Fayola. Ultimately, he gleaned the most inspiration from Tanzania and the Serengeti.
While designing Elephant Fayola, Zendron also kept in mind how the elephant would become part of a cohesive collection. He chose to depict the gentle giant mid-stride, symbolizing her continuous stroll across the African savanna, protecting both the landscape and her infants: “Elephants look out for each other, they protect their young and they always keep an eye on them,” he says. “Visually, it was important that the elephants looked like they were wandering.”
Step 2: Rough sculptural modeling
Using digital computer modeling, Zendron then worked on converting his sketches into a three-dimensional representation. He experimented with different leg, trunk, and tusk positions until he settled on a pose that perfectly captured the grand African elephant’s essence.
Step 3: Design model
Once a final design was chosen, Zendron worked with product developers to optimize the angles of the facets to ensure the masterpiece would capture the elephant’s majesty as well as Swarovski crystal’s beauty. When they were satisfied, Elephant Fayola boasted 822 facets and a resin replica was produced.
Step 4: Handmade prototype
Elegance of Africa SCS Annual Edition 2022 Elephant Fayola finally paraded into life as a hand-cut and polished prototype. Although the color Greige had never been used for such a large figurine, Zendron chose it because he felt it was the closest color to the elephant’s iconic skin. The exterior was further enhanced with Marron and Satin effects to enhance every angle of its silhouette and the spine was steamed to give the illusion of sand across the animal’s back, which it uses to protect itself from the sun.
Step 5: Production of crystal parts
Once the crystal prototype was perfected, production began. This required precise tooling to individually cut each of the constituent parts of the great mammal. Meticulous care was taken to perfect the signature curve of the elephant’s back.
Step 6: Gluing and assembly
Each component was meticulously glued together by hand, and a final polish helped to bring Elephant Fayola to life.
Step 7: Quality control
Each crystal creation was thoroughly examined by a team of experts, who ensured that all colors looked as they should and that each facet was flawless and radiant. Once it passed this final scrutiny, Elephant Fayola was ready to embark on a new journey into our homes, bringing with her an air of majesty and warmth.
Once the crystal prototype was perfected, production began. This required precise tooling to individually cut each of the constituent parts of the great mammal. Meticulous care was taken to perfect the signature curve of the elephant’s back.
Step 6: Gluing and assembly
Each component was meticulously glued together by hand, and a final polish helped to bring Elephant Fayola to life.
Step 7: Quality control
Each crystal creation was thoroughly examined by a team of experts, who ensured that all colors looked as they should and that each facet was flawless and radiant. Once it passed this final scrutiny, Elephant Fayola was ready to embark on a new journey into our homes, bringing with her an air of majesty and warmth.