The Piece line of ceramic bells is designed in Bone China with an underlying focus on finding a potential alternative to the traditional process of sand casting of brass bells typically produced in India. The bell construct and material acoustically open the collection to a range of mellow sounds. A combination of ceramic outer bodies and a range of beater materials creates a diverse range of acoustic qualities.
The bell geometry and construction are designed to seamlessly embed functionality into sinuous and beautiful forms. Slip-casting of ceramic allows for the creation of monolithic bulged forms that uniquely interlock a beater mechanism internally. An expandable silicon funnel compresses to lock into the bulged volume holding a choice of beaters, ranging from mallet rubber to hard and softwoods. The geometry and material properties of the beaters combined with ceramic body contours create an opportunity for a beautiful array of unique sounding bells.
The bulge element of the bell additionally works as a grip and acoustically isolates the effect of physical handling on the mellow sounds it creates. In addition, the production process of the Piece bells opens up a unique opportunity for aesthetic enhancement using techniques typically used to decorate ceramic tableware through glazing, decals, and surface textures.
