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Stained Glass Boxes
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Of all my boxes I think this is my favorite!
A great display piece for a desk...
This is an interactive piece-
The swings move, the see-saws tilt up and down,
and there is real sand in the sandbox
(sealed so cats won't...um...you know).
Dimensions: 3"H x 9"W x 9"D
This is my best seller!
Women especially enjoy buying
this box for the men in their lives.
The roof opens from both sides and if requested
I've soldered surprises in the eaves...
sometimes a spider's web...
or shingles on the roof!
It's up to you.
Here are some of the variations
on the house box I've created for clients.
As you can see, the possibilities are many!
I have a special attachment to this box. Creating it was a liberating experience for me.
You may notice a snake motif in my work. This can be attributed to my "serpent" period when
I was exorcising a "so-called snake in the grass" or is it glass? from my life. From a lousy love affair art is
manifest!
The pattern on the snake is copper foil carved into a diamond motif and then soldered to create the raised surface. This is a slow painstaking process because if the surface of the glass reaches too high a temperature during soldering the glass cracks. At that point the glass is thrown away and the process begins again with a new piece of glass and a new carving. Patience is a virtue!
One afternoon I found myself in a Philadelphia bead store ooowing and aaahing over the selection of unusual findings. I left with a handful of enamel fish, unsure of how to use them. From those fish this design was born.
A turquoise blue box is surrounded by coral . The fish feed on the coral, and when touched or the lid is moved their segmented tails flip from side to side. Two fish hide inside, just waiting to be found by you!
The dimensions are of the container only, the coral is not included in this measurement.
"Unrequited Love"
I created this box in response to the end of a love affair.
At the time, I thought of myself as the moth who was trapped and waiting to be consumed by the spider.
Under a midnight blue sky a life and death struggle is about to play itself out.
The box lid is a single piece of glass.
The cobweb is created by placing a sheet of copper foil over the surface of the glass
and carving away to expose the threads and intersections of the web.
The remaining foil is then soldered to create the beaded web on the surface of the glass.
The dimensions are of the container only, the heart lid is a bit larger.
My pyramid boxes are popular gift items. I make the box in two sizes. A small size perfect for a child or for holding rings or a special pin or two. The larger box is great as a display piece while also functional. This box has been made with either one side opening or the two opposing sides opening.
The box may also be personalized with a name soldered onto the surface of the glass. The blue box has been inscribed with the name "Alexandra".
(Small): Base=3"W x 3"D x 5"H
(Large): Base=6"W x 6"D x 7"H
This is the second of many snake boxes I've made. A soft blue glass suggests a watery environment. The snake wraps itself around the box as it slides through the water. The head of the snake extends off the box and can be used to open the lid. Protruding from a rock in the corner is a wire tail suggesting some small creature hiding from the snake's view.
This box is a variation on Serpentine (above) that was commissioned after the client saw Serpentine resting on a table in my studio. I've created several serpent boxes and with each box I vary the glass and/or the carved and beaded pattern on the snake.
These boxes were created on a whim
since I've always enjoyed polka dots.
They remind me of my beloved godmother
who I thought owned a polka dot dress in every color.
She was such a cheerful soul and as a child I
believed the polka dots made her cheery!
The logic of a child!
Dimensions (Rectangle): 2-1/2"H x 5-1/2" W x 4
Note: All box dimensions are approximate.
Dear Guest,
I create my boxes to be both functional and beautiful to behold. They have been used and enjoyed for many years in my home and the homes of my collectors. However, they are fragile objects that will break if dropped or handled harshly.
I live with a frisky cat that climbs furniture, and a large active dog,who has a whip for a tail. The only problem I've encountered so far was from a cleaning woman who I failed to caution about using a gentle hand when cleaning the boxes, and who succeeded in breaking the chains on half of those she vigorously cleaned.
If you have children or active pets please choose the location for your box wisely. When broken this glass does not shatter but forms dangerous shards.
So please choose a location to display your box that is safe. If you do so you can be assured of enjoying and using your box for many years!
Leah Nanci Targon
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(c) 1992-2003 Leah Nanci Targon. All rights reserved.