cura combs

these combs are created through a process called kilnforming or kiln-casting glass through lost-wax method.

this process is very different from blowing or hot sculpting glass.

i begin by hand-sculpting a form out of clay. then, i create a series of molds, to create a wax form of the sculpture, which then gets invested in a plaster/silica mold. i then remove the wax from the investment mold and am left with a cavity where glass will melt inside. each mold is single-use.

i put the investment molds into the kiln with the glass and fire for 3-4 days. once the firing is complete i divest (break away) the plaster/silica and am left with the form in glass.

i then coldwork the piece, cutting off the reservoir of glass, sanding, blending, sealing and finishing the surface of the glass.

a lot of love, hard work, time and care goes into each piece.

each comb is uniquely handmade so there will be subtle variations like shape, texture and weight depending on a variety of factors.

one aspect of this is the type of glass used: some glasses are heavier than others. this also affects the audible sound of the glass (in this case when the glass moves through your hair).

i cast some combs in billet and others in frit so some have many tiny visible bubbles inside, while others have virtually none.

the texture and finish of the glass is a combination of my own intention—considering color, light and feel.

for me, it’s about honoring the beauty of the glass as a material AND the quality of the casting, which is something i love about kilnforming glass: it makes a very special surface on the glass that renders light and color incredibly.

the coldworking process is part of this too. i free-form the top of the comb when i’m sanding it so the shape and contour of each varies. some of the combs are sandblasted and etched. others are pumiced.