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Xiamen, China.
Skylight of Tefang Portman Hotel
by Progetto Arte Poli

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artworks

SYMBOLS AND MEANING

The dominating character in the lofty glass composition that the skylight is, is the power of light. It is the light, in fact, that gives life to the forms and figures present in the skylight.

The central theme is that of the family, represented through the diverse symbolisms all traceable back to the three elements: air, earth, and water. In fact, the family is traditionally represented by the number three (the father, the mother, and the son), the perfect number both in the Western and Eastern culture.

In the four angles of the skylight, it is possible to see four families of egrets (birds symbolically representative of the sun) in four different moments of the day. At the centre of the skylight there are four families of dolphins (animals symbolically representative of the moon). Just as the egrets, even the family of the dolphins are represented in four different periods of the months relative to the lunar phases. In this way the flow of time is represented in all of its forms: daily and monthly, and, together with the frescos, seasonally.
skylight


TECHNICAL DATA


Dimensions:
27 x 16 x 5 m

• Curved supporting structure of metal
• Wrought iron decorative elements
• Mouth blown glass windows with Tiffany linking technique
skylight 3d


skylight project

MAKING OF THE STAINED GLASS PANELS



1
Reproduction of drawingin 1:1 scale
Reproduction of drawingin 1:1 scale


2
Preparation of the cardboard templates
Preparation of the cardboard templates


3
Selection of the mouth blown glass
Selection of the mouth blown glass


4
Glass cutting
Glass cutting


5
Grissaille painting
Grissaille painting


6
Joint
Joint


Glass blowing

The glass obtained through the ancient technique of the mouth blowing is a mix of oxides powder and nobel metals. After being made viscous at high temperature it is put on the edge of a tube that the artisan blows into. The mass turns into an oblungo ball that is then cut at the edges to obtain a cylinder. It is thus cut longways and heated again to flatten it.

Glass blowing

Making of supporting structure

The structure was built in the art studio at the same time as the windows. Therefore the work is a unique piece entirely signed by the artist.

Supporting structure
Structure was built in the art studio
Making of supporting structure

Wrought iron decorative elements

Together with the structure the wrought iron elements were built by hand according to the ancient technique and then gilded. The wrought iron elements are the centre of the ceiling which exalts beauty and importance all around.

Wrought iron decorative elements

Tefang Portman Hotel & Resort


Xiamen, China.

Tefang Portman Hotel is a Five-Star French Style Seaside Resort Hotel. The hotel occupies a total plot area of 100,000 m2, with over 70,000 m2 of the green area in its European style gardens.
Tefang Portman Hotel & Resort
Arte Poli - skylight
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