Swarovski’s Mastery and Craftsmanship
Title:The Majesty of Elephant Fayola
Subtitle:
The Swarovski Crystal Society (SCS) collection is once again heading to the wide, sprawling plains of the African savannah. This year, we are taking inspiration from the largest land mammal on Earth – the African elephant. Let’s take a look at how the magnificent matriarch, Elephant Fayola, was brought to life in crystal.
Guardians of the African savannah
Title:
Is there an animal that inspires more awe and grandeur than the African elephant? Standing between eight and 13 ft tall and weighing anywhere between 5—14,000 lbs, this magnificent animal has a commanding presence that makes even lions and cheetahs move out of the way.
As a keystone species, African elephants are essential engineers of their ecosystem. While their herds roam the African lands, they spread seeds and create pathways to pave the way for smaller animals to move through the brush more easily. In the dry season, they use their great tusks and dexterous trunks to dig up riverbeds and pull up saplings and trees. This creates miniature oases for their herd and other species and helps aerate the soil to keep the landscape open for other plains animals.
As a keystone species, African elephants are essential engineers of their ecosystem. While their herds roam the African lands, they spread seeds and create pathways to pave the way for smaller animals to move through the brush more easily. In the dry season, they use their great tusks and dexterous trunks to dig up riverbeds and pull up saplings and trees. This creates miniature oases for their herd and other species and helps aerate the soil to keep the landscape open for other plains animals.
Vedle své ohromné velikosti jsou afričtí sloni působiví také pro své chování podobné tomu lidskému. Jsou to mimořádně společenská zvířata a často zůstávají ve stejné rodině po celý svůj život. Mláďata divoce houpou choboty, dokud je jejich rodiče nenaučí, jak je používat. Když zemře člen stáda, ostatní truchlí a často se vrací na místo, kde jejich milovaný zemřel, jako by mu chtěli vzdát úctu.
Tato velkolepá stvoření jsou matriarchální. Ve stádě často převažují samice a největší a nejstarší slonice je vůdkyní celého stáda. Pro mnohé ve stádě je něco jako babička. Slonice Fayola, což znamená „ta, která kráčí s úctou“, byla vymodelována podle jedné z těchto úžasných mateřských vůdkyň, která vždycky dává pozor na svou rodinu.
Afričtí sloni – něžní obři – jsou úchvatnými pečovateli o africké pláně. Řídí svůj domov jako milující rodič, zajišťují zdravé a prospívající prostředí pro své potomky a zemi a zvířata, jež je obklopují. S letošním Výroční edice SCS Elegance of Africa 2022 Slonice Fayola bude stejná majestátní přítomnost prozařovat i váš domov.
Tato velkolepá stvoření jsou matriarchální. Ve stádě často převažují samice a největší a nejstarší slonice je vůdkyní celého stáda. Pro mnohé ve stádě je něco jako babička. Slonice Fayola, což znamená „ta, která kráčí s úctou“, byla vymodelována podle jedné z těchto úžasných mateřských vůdkyň, která vždycky dává pozor na svou rodinu.
Afričtí sloni – něžní obři – jsou úchvatnými pečovateli o africké pláně. Řídí svůj domov jako milující rodič, zajišťují zdravé a prospívající prostředí pro své potomky a zemi a zvířata, jež je obklopují. S letošním Výroční edice SCS Elegance of Africa 2022 Slonice Fayola bude stejná majestátní přítomnost prozařovat i váš domov.
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.
5ο βήμα: Παραγωγή των κρυστάλλινων στοιχείων
Μόλις τελειοποιήθηκε το κρυστάλλινο πρωτότυπο, η παραγωγή ξεκίνησε. Αυτό χρειάστηκε εργαλεία ακριβείας, για να κοπεί ξεχωριστά καθένα από τα συστατικά στοιχεία του μεγάλου θηλαστικού. Δόθηκε σχολαστική προσοχή στην τελειοποίηση της χαρακτηριστικής καμπύλης της πλάτης του ελέφαντα.
6ο βήμα: Συγκόλληση και συναρμολόγηση
Έκαστο συστατικό στοιχείο συγκολλήθηκε σχολαστικά με το χέρι και με τη βοήθεια του τελικού γυαλίσματος, απέκτησε Ελεφαντίνα Fayola ζωή.
7ο βήμα: Ποιοτικός έλεγχος
Κάθε κρυστάλλινη δημιουργία εξετάστηκε διεξοδικά από ομάδα ειδικών, οι οποίοι πιστοποίησαν τη σωστή εμφάνιση των χρωμάτων και την αρτιότητα και λάμψη των εδρών. Μόλις πέρασε αυτόν τον τελικό έλεγχο, η Ελεφαντίνα Fayola ήταν έτοιμη να ξεκινήσει το νέο της ταξίδι στα σπίτια μας, φέρνοντας μαζί της έναν αέρα μεγαλειότητας και ζεστασιάς.
Μόλις τελειοποιήθηκε το κρυστάλλινο πρωτότυπο, η παραγωγή ξεκίνησε. Αυτό χρειάστηκε εργαλεία ακριβείας, για να κοπεί ξεχωριστά καθένα από τα συστατικά στοιχεία του μεγάλου θηλαστικού. Δόθηκε σχολαστική προσοχή στην τελειοποίηση της χαρακτηριστικής καμπύλης της πλάτης του ελέφαντα.
6ο βήμα: Συγκόλληση και συναρμολόγηση
Έκαστο συστατικό στοιχείο συγκολλήθηκε σχολαστικά με το χέρι και με τη βοήθεια του τελικού γυαλίσματος, απέκτησε Ελεφαντίνα Fayola ζωή.
7ο βήμα: Ποιοτικός έλεγχος
Κάθε κρυστάλλινη δημιουργία εξετάστηκε διεξοδικά από ομάδα ειδικών, οι οποίοι πιστοποίησαν τη σωστή εμφάνιση των χρωμάτων και την αρτιότητα και λάμψη των εδρών. Μόλις πέρασε αυτόν τον τελικό έλεγχο, η Ελεφαντίνα Fayola ήταν έτοιμη να ξεκινήσει το νέο της ταξίδι στα σπίτια μας, φέρνοντας μαζί της έναν αέρα μεγαλειότητας και ζεστασιάς.