'pistil' vase


taking a creative cue from the industry and the world of machine tools, 'pistil' of the
transformers collection are part of the continuous work of french designer francis chabloz
and allows the user to create customized vase structures. the design is made up of four flexible
simple elements: glass, plate, bowl and a 'flute' with an aluminum finish and a rubber bulb (pistil)
bag on one end.





the bulb is slipped into the common orifice created by stacking and aligning the glass objects.
using a bicycle pump, the rubber bulb is inflated resulting in a new form each time,
when subjected to the pressure of the various glass configurations.





the system of the 'pistil' vases allows for an unlimited number of different combination
depending on the stacking arrangements that the user chooses.






image © designboom



image © designboom



image © designboom
rubber bulb is inserted into stacked glass objects and inflated using a bicycle pump



image © designboom
alternative stacking combination result in variants in final vase form



image © designboom



initial prototypes



the test seals were performed with a standard birthday balloon and then with a inner tube cut and sewn.



'pear tree mold'
four molds are needed to manufacture the component parts the vase.



mold burned after blowing the piece.



glass blowing production process



glass blowing production process



glass blowing production process







sketches


'after research on the glass, I wanted to create a vase to make all different shapes I had
drawn. in doing research on how to assemble pieces of glass in another way I found a
way to do it with a balloon.' - FC



francis chabloz
portrait © designboom


the 'pistil' vase collection was presented at DMY international design festival berlin 2010