Bismuth Crystal Glass Pipe

Description

The Bismuth Crystal Glass Pipe is an excellent example of mixed media fabrication. To lay down a baseline, understand that colored Borosilicate (Pyrex) has not existed very long. Borosilicate is a ‘young’ material. It has only been in production since WWI. Since then it has only been available in clear.

Enter Richard Clements and his revolutionalry process for adding elemental color to clear borosilicate. His process of superheating the boro to just under devitrification to create interstitial (‘in between’) coloration paved the way for further additions of disimilar materials that ‘behave’ like the base material. As an example, base element Cobalt is introduced at temperature to provide the color Blue.

Bismuth is one of those materials that can present itself to borosilicate as though it is borosilicate. Coefficients of expansion and electron arrangements help Bismuth in it’s masquerade with boro. A simplistic explanation for sure, but you get what I am saying.

The boro pipe, recently made, but below shock temperature is dipped in a pool of melted Bismuth and as the two cool together, the Bismuth re-forms into its crystalline natural state. Strong dipole Van de Waals forces form between the Boro and the Bismuth that keep the two together without actually becoming a new molecule. The artist has little control over the crystals reforming, so, no two Bismuth Crystal Glass Pipes are EVER the same.

Hand Made in USA

Additional information