The year winds down at Martin Pierce Hardware

It is difficult to believe that 2014 is winding down.  It has been quite a year for us and we expect 2015 to be just as exciting and rewarding.  As we finish up a few year-end projects we wanted to share just a couple of items with you. The jay bird Martin has been working on for several months is now cast and looking very good.  It will finally be completed within the week and, once photographed, we can share the final piece.  The big decision to be made is the angle of the wing that we will be using to attach it to the wall or mount it to a door.  There needs to be enough clearance behind the wing to allow it to be grasped as a door pull while maintaining the appearance of a bird in flight.  We also need to decide how dark to patina the bird.  We will be doing an oil rubbed finish but feel the veins and crevices in the feathers need to be darker for definition. To refresh your memory on the process of designing and casting this awesome hardware, please check out past blog posts here and here.   Stay tuned for the final reveal.

We have also been working  on a new piece that will be a wall mounted light or sconce.  We are at the early pattern stage right now but, as with most of what Martin has been doing these days,  it will be very organic in design and reminiscent of his open cellular Morphic collection.

We will share the progress on this piece as we move along.

You can view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware by visiting our site at www.martin pierce.com.

Quick and easy recipe for those holiday gatherings

As we all are painfully aware, these last few weeks of the year are packed with activities, both personal and professional.  If you find yourself tasked with the responsibility of hosting co-workers, clients or friends and need a recipe that is not only quick and easy but will have your guests coming back for seconds, this one just might be the answer:

Ingredients:

Lady fingers

Raspberry jam

Fresh or frozen raspberries

Good sherry!

Raspberry jello

Jello pudding (I get 1 x lemon and 1 x vanilla then layer them)

Whole milk

Whipping cream

Process:

Spread the lady fingers with jam and place in the bottom of a clear glass trifle dish.  This will make it possible for you to see the beautiful layers before serving.

Make up the jello with 1 cup of  boiling water and then add 1 cup of sherry – set in the fridge.

Make up the jello pudding and layer on top – set in the fridge.

Whip up the cream and place on top.

Throw on some fresh raspberries or whatever decorations take your fancy.

Et voila!  A true English trifle that will delight your guests.

We first shared this favored recipe with you in December of 2013 and are looking forward to enjoying it again this holiday season.   Now all that is left for you to do is set a beautiful table, provide a delicious beverage and enjoy spending time with those who are important to you, both personally and professionally. Bon appetit!

To view our entire collection of architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Pantone announces 2015 Color of the year

Those involved in the interior design and fashion world eagerly await an announcement by color experts, Pantone, of the color of the year.  This year they caught everyone who was expecting some shade of blue off guard by selecting Marsala as the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year.

According to the executive director of Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman, "Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us in to its embracing warmth...nurturing and fulfilling."

While this color is as rich and delicious as the wine it is named after, it is also a versatile shade that will be right at home in any room in your home from the kitchen to the bath to the bedroom or will warm up the lobby and guest rooms of a boutique hotel.  It is easily paired with most colors and will complement all types of wood and metal used in the space.  Hospitality and residential designers alike will find many uses for this new color.

In the kitchen

A crisp and clean contemporary kitchen with Marsala walls, small appliances or fabric provide the perfect backdrop for stainless steel hardware.

In the bath

Whether it is in a beautiful spa bath at home or a luxury hotel retreat, the beauty of bronze or high polished brass fixtures, hardware and bath accessories make a striking combination when paired with richly hued Marsala linens and paint in a more traditional setting.

On the exterior

Add a punch to the entry by painting the door with this new color and using oil rubbed bronze hardware for a warm greeting to guest or clients.

How will you use this latest color trend in your upcoming projects?

You can view our entire collection of custom hardware at www.martinpierce.com.

Our final homage to Antoni Gaudi's architecture

As we continue to share highlights of our recent vacation to Spain we saved the best for last.  Although, quite honestly,  each of Gaudi’s works stands on its own; each is a harmonious tribute to nature. Sagrada Familia

I think the reason that La Sagrada Familia has become the focal point of Gaudi’s achievements is, in part, due to its continued evolution.  Gaudi began work on it in 1883 and continued to work until his death in 1926 when it was less than a quarter complete. Work has continued over the decades, funded by private donations.  The basilica is scheduled to be completed by 2026 which will be the centennial of Gaudi’s death.  On a side note, it is deemed a basilica, meaning significant church, as Barcelona already has a cathedral and apparently you can only have one per city!

Look closely at the exterior of the Sagrada Familia and you will find that it consists of layer upon layer of images and symbolism.

Once inside the visual delight continues.  Pillars inspired by sinew and bones are an amazing feat of both engineering and aesthetic design.

It is fun to compare the design of the pillars to the sinewy movement and design of our Epic entry door handles from our Ergo Collection of architectural hardware.

And light and color are never forgotten by the maestro!

The location and grand scale of this iconic building has certainly secured its position in history and is worth a visit since photographs do not do it justice.

You can view our entire collection of custom hardware at www.martinpierce.com.

Ada compliant contemporary hardware designs

Many of today's designers and architects are seeking door and cabinet hardware for hotels, spas, nightclubs and commercial buildings that are not only attractive but that also comply with strict ADA building codes.  In other words, hardware that is easy to grasp and operate for those who may have some physical limitations. This might be necessary in brand new construction or in a retrofit situation.  This is difficult enough without adding the additional requirement of good looks.

As the population continues to age and, in this very competitive market, it is important that buildings be designed to allow easy access to all who wish to enter.  After all, a businessman does not want to deter someone who might have difficulty gaining entrance and/or navigating the building from entering and conducting their business.  More importantly, consumers need to be able to gain access to their home, their doctor's offices or retail shops.

We are pleased that our Ergo collection of custom hardware meets these demanding standards.  The lever design of our entry and passageway pieces are easy to operate and create a stunning look that will please any lover of contemporary design. Several of our collections, including Morphic, can, upon request, also be adapted to meet ADA standards. This might include lever style handles in place of knobs and pulls that do not require a strong grasp in order to easily operate them.

If you are in the market for door hardware with a crisp and contemporary look and that is ADA compliant or would like to view our entire collection of custom hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Add color to your custom hardware

 

Most of us are familiar with and expect oil rubbed bronze, stainless steel, nickel and brass finish choices when it comes time to select door and cabinet hardware.  But we are here to tell you that you can add color to your hardware.

Adding a specific color will not only add interest but it can offer other positive influences. For example, hospitality designers will appreciate the ability to incorporate a client's specific brand color to a project's hardware, thereby highlighting the brand.  If the hardware selection incorporates design features such as floral motifs, animals, bugs etc., adding color will allow these patterns to really "pop".  Our lizard pull shown below is a fine example of the impact color can have on custom hardware.

A subtle introduction of color can also have a big impact.  The effect is seen in the color we added to our Morphic cylindrical entryway pulls and debuted at this year's HD Expo in Las Vegas.  The cutout design offers the perfect opportunity to add color to this sleek and contemporary collection of custom hardware.

Is there a place in your next project for some color?  If so, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com to view our entire collection of architectural hardware.

How does an Englishman celebrate Thanksgiving?

We thought it might be fun to publish last year's Thanksgiving post as it references one of our favorite recipe books, Fields of Greens.  This book features one of my favorite recipes which is a potato au gratin dish and that recipe can be found here.

Please enjoy this post again and know that the holiday sentiment is the same as last year--that you and your family and friends enjoy a relaxing and healthy holiday with those closest to you.

Originally published November 27, 2013:

As you can imagine, Thanksgiving in our home is celebrated a bit differently than the typical American  way of enjoying a large feast of turkey and stuffing, pies and sauces. But we do enjoy spending time in the company of neighbors, many of whom are transplants as well, and being grateful for all we have.  And, like any gathering, we enjoy a delicious meal that often includes beef or lamb but without a bird in sight!

One of our favorite dishes to make is a potato au gratin from the My Field of Greens cookbook.   The recipe and helpful tips can be found here and, while time intensive it is well worth the effort and makes for great leftovers the next day.  And from what I understand about this American holiday, it really is all about the leftovers.  I like to fry it up in a bit of olive oil, add a fried egg and some leftover prosciutto or bacon.  It brings back fond memories of my mother’s bubble and squeak, although hers usually included mashed potatoes and cabbage.  Delicious!

We at Martin Pierce Custom Hardware want to wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday spent with family and friends.

Our vacation to Spain continues

The next stop on our visit to Barcelona was to see CASA BATLLO.  This iconic Modernist masterpiece is located in the center of Barcelona on the historically prestigious street Passeig de GraciaI.   It was originally commissioned by Lluís Sala Sánchez but totally renovated by the Batllo family from 1904 -1906. It is known locally as the House of Bones, no doubt because so much of its form is inspired by the vertebra of both man and other animals. Can you see the reference to vertebra in the design of the staircase?

The house, like so much of Gaudi’s work, incorporates fantastical earthly and non-earthly themes.  For example, the ocean with its waves, sea creatures and sea shells carved on the doors, are captured in tile.

As you can see, Gaudi’s Casa Battlo makes wonderful use of colored tile, in particular the color blue.  A fine example of this is the inner shaft that was used to cool the house with louvered wooden shutters that opened to allow cool air in.

The curvaceous and fluid shape of the wooden windows and doors is reminiscent of tree roots and plant tendrils.  Be sure to take notice of the unique wainscoting design on the walls.

And the arched roof crowns of the building are, by all accounts, Gaudi’s interpretation of a dragon.

Room accessories to compliment your custom hardware

With any design project, big ticket items and other decisions often monopolize the conversation.  Room layouts, color schemes and furniture needs are determined early in the game.  However, as all hospitality and residential designers know, it is often the little details that really make the room. Hardware for doors and cabinets are obviously a necessity but being ordinary is not a requirement.  That same school of thought holds true for other items in any space, including the bathroom.  Products like the soap dish, towel and robe hooks and even tissue holders may seem unimportant in the overall design of the space but they can make a strong design statement, particularly when they compliment the custom door hardware.  Take, for example, the companion pieces in our Hedgerow, Morphic, Ergo and Willow collections:

The sleek design of our Morphic coat hook is like a miniature piece of modern sculpture for your walls.

Our popular Hedgerow collection of architectural hardware also features utilitarian items like this beautifully detailed towel bar cast in oil rubbed bronze.

Even the tissue holder will get noticed when it is this contemporary design from our crisp and clean stainless steel Ergo collection.

Don't overlook the opportunity to introduce beautifully detailed accessories in your next hotel, spa, commercial or residential project.

To view all of these product and our entire collection of architectural hardware, visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Our homage to Gaudi continues with a visit to Colonia Guell

As we continue our discovery of Catalan Modernisme in Barcelona we began our homage to Gaudi in earnest when we visited his work at  Colonia Guell. Not to be confused with Parc Guell, the “colony” was an unusual venture into social engineering and urban planning; again funded by Gaudi’s benefactor and friend Eusebi Güell.  Colonia Guell  is in many ways the blue collar polar opposite to the planned community that was to be Parc Guell, the latter being in the new sector of Barcelona and targeted for the very affluent.

The Colony is located outside of Barcelona and reached by train and, unlike much of Gaudi’s work,  it is not unduly cluttered with tourists like ourselves.  Quite the contrary, for  on arriving at the Colony we found ourselves in a ghost town.  When we arrived at the station we were 2 of only 4 passengers who had come to the colony.  Therefore, together we 4  followed the blue track that took us past the eerily quiet factory,  through a street of quiet houses and on to the Crypt and Church which are the Gaudi highlights of this small ghost town.  The detailing on the exterior of the crypt reminds me of a reptile and so similar to our own set of Iguana door pulls.  See if you agree:

The colony was begun in 1890 at what would have been the peak of the industrial revolution that began in England. Guell was an industrialist; therefore, at the Colony his first building was not surprisingly the cotton textile mill and supporting buildings. The worker houses and the manager’s house together with a school house followed on the heels of the factory.  Finally, the church which was both the spiritual and visual center of the town. The Colony showcases Gaudi’s work and also the architecture of Joan Rubió, a disciple of Gaudi and whose CaL’Espinal is an interesting modernist house so named for the factory manager Mr. Espinal who lived there.

The Crypt of the church  is an unusual and somewhat bizarre architectural feat and it is where Gaudi developed a lot of his engineering techniques that were later used in his masterpiece, Sagrada Familia.

As Wikipedia so puts it

“Gaudí's design[edit]

The technique Gaudí used to design the church was to hang little bags of birdshot from strings. Gravity would pull these bags downwards, giving even weight distribution and stretching the strings to form a model structure, thus showing him the shapes and angles his pillars would need to be.

By photographing the model, then inverting the photograph, Gaudí could then see the model as it should look. A replica of his model for the crypt is in the Museum under the Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

This place was really spooky and also very sad.  You felt as if the lives of these workers were trapped inside the “majesty” of someone’s grand plan.

While the architecture was interesting we were pleased to return to Barcelona and the hustle and bustle of life.

To view other pieces in our collection of architectural hardware, visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Get to know your entry door hardware up close and personal---backplates

A front door is something we all have in common.  And while the appearance of our entry door hardware varies from building to building, they all have parts in common.  Let's break it down and review the proper terminology and purpose of this very necessary hardware.

Back plate or to some, escutcheon: The plate to which a door handle, be it a lever or knob, is attached, making it possible to open the door. The back plate was often referred to in England and Europe as an escutcheon plate which tends to imply that it is more decorative.  The back plate not only is the mounting for the handle but it also covers up the "guts" of the lock in the door be it a tubular lock or mortise lock.

At Martin Pierce  our back plates are extremely decorative and very stylized.  They are designed to continue the artistic style of the handles.  With our lizard handles shown in the photo we designed a back plate to look like the bark of a tree; our Willow knob uses a circular back plate or rose in the form of overlapping willow leaves; the Hedgerow handle uses a back plate that has fretted sections at the top and bottom that are stylized tree branches.

Our entire collection of custom architectural hardware for both entry and interior doors can be seen at www.martinpierce.com.

Fine examples of modernisme mosaic

A few weeks ago we traveled to Spain with the specific goal of visiting many of Antoni Gaudi's works. Along the way we stumbled upon the works of another great name from the Modernisme period, Montaner.  We share parts of our story here. One of the more remarkable aspects of the work of these two geniuses is their use of mosaic tile.  But not just any mosaic tile...in lieu of the more expected symmetrically cut glass, they both incorporate broken tile pieces into their designs.  These irregular pieces of tile and glass give their work an organic edge that we find so interesting and appealing, especially when juxtaposed with the exposed brick and ironwork of the buildings they design.

In this photo you can clearly see the mosaic pattern in the red background.

And, while this photo does not do justice to this remarkable domed ceiling, it does give you an idea of what to expect from Montaner i.e. exposed iron supports and curvilinear shapes as seen in the various patterns.

As we have shared, Martin Pierce continues to be inspired by the work of these two gentlemen as well as the Art Nouveau and other early 20th century art and architecture movements.  Following this very inspirational vacation I am looking forward to what the future holds for our custom hardware designs and sculpture.

For some inspiration of your own, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com to view our entire collection of architectural hardware.

Montaner treasures in Barcelona

The first few weeks of October found us experiencing the vacation of a lifetime in Spain with the first half of this remarkable trip spent in Barcelona. We traveled to Barcelona in homage to architect Antoni Gaudi who's modernist art nouveau style continues to inspire and humble Martin. However, before we even saw our first Gaudi treasure we stumbled upon the work of another key architect in Catalan Modernisme,  Domenechi Montaner (1850-1923)

His Palau de la Musica Catalana  was located near where we stayed and we found it by chance. We  were so astounded by the exterior that we signed up for the guided tour and took this video during that visit.

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The building is one of amazing color, texture and light. Decorated with natural themes often in the  form of applied ceramic and glass flowers and leaves, the style is so intense with color, movement and varied mediums that it is  almost like being inside a kaleidoscope.  I fear the impact must be overwhelming to those with subtle palettes. If one looks at the tiered ceramic layers that lead to the stained glass roof one is reminded of the Victorian décor that we recently saw at the Simpson house in Santa Barbara.

Montaner’s style, while not as unrestrained as Gaudi, certainly shares Guadi’s sense of fun and sets both of their works apart from that of their contemporaries.

The Palau was built between 1905 and 1908 but more recently the façade has been extended to include a Petite Palau in 2004. The new addition continues Montaner’s theme of nature but with the clever use of red brick which, ironically, was being built during the same period when Martin began designing his Hedgerow collection.  I say this is ironic as both make reference to tree canopies; in Martin Pierce’s case it is the canopy that forms the grip for the passageway door handle.

Hedgerow Collection from Martin Pierce Hardware

The cool beauty of stainless steel hardware

We spend a lot of time talking about and sharing our collection of bronze hardware, and for good reason.  This warm metal is very popular because it works with almost any design style and is certain to please both your hospitality and residential clients.  While bronze is popular, stainless steel fixtures can have the same impact on projects, especially those done in a contemporary style. We offer several stainless steel collections but, of course, custom hardware can be cast in the metal of your choice.

Sleek and modern

Our Ergo collection is not only sleek and modern but ergonomically designed to fit the hand comfortably, making it a perfect choice for hospitality and commercial projects.  The unique design is also ADA compliant.

Texture and color

The architectural hardware pieces in our Morphic collection have a textural quality that is both beautiful and interesting.  A powder coated accent color is an option we debuted at the 2014 HD Expo, giving designers the ability to further customize the pieces for their clients.

Organic

A combination of modern and textural, our appropriately named Texture collection offers a little of both.  The contemporary wave pulls are suitable for both residential and commercial projects, and while the chiseled collection is not cast in stainless as are the other items we have shown, it will add a bit of rustic elegance to any door, drawer or cabinet.

Bronze, brass, stainless or your own custom combination of metals---your choice of metal finishes for hardware can add a personalized detail to your next hospitality, residential or commercial project.

You can view our entire collection of stainless steel and other custom hardware items at www.martinpierce.com.

Anatomy of a bronze door handle-part 3

Whew!  I am tired just reading about this lengthy process.  But excited about the outcome! Onward... now that we have “lost” the wax that melted out we are left with a hollow shell with the ceramic gates or funnels.  Try to envision a hollow wall around the body of the bird that we are now going to fill with molten bronze.

We will pour the molten bronze into  the shells and, once cooled, we are left with castings. The gates will have been turned to bronze and will need to be removed.  In the photo you can see the flat areas on the body and feet that are a result of the gates being removed.

These areas are ground off leaving behind a scar or rough section that will require further grinding to smooth them out.  The details such as the vein of a wing will have to be "chased" or added by hand.

In the next photo we show the top side of the casting before the piece has been assembled.

This beautiful representation of the magnificent jay hawk can be modified for use as entry door handles or hung on the wall and enjoyed as a wall sculpture.

To view our collection of architectural hardware, sculptures and custom furniture, visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Going batty with door and drawer hardware

Halloween seems to be the perfect time to highlight some of our "spookier" pieces of custom hardware.  While not designed to be spooky but rather a detailed representation of the creatures, they are all popular "ambassadors" for All Hallow's Eve that can be enjoyed year round. Hospitality designers will enjoy the realistic or whimsical value they will add to spa, hotel and commercial projects while residential designers will please many a homeowner with the introduction of these unique door and drawer hardware items.

Bats

Unbeknownst to most of us, bats play an important role in the world-wide economy and contribute greatly to the environment.  But it is their role in literature that most of us are familiar with.  After all, don't vampires morph into bats at the light of day?  But our bat hardware is actually finely detailed miniature pieces of art that will enhance any interior project.

Lizards

Perhaps Shakespeare says it best in Macbeth "eye of newt and toe of frog...lizard's leg...". This recipe for a poisonous soup includes many of the creatures from our Animal collection, including our popular lizard and shiny frog pull.

 Creepy crawlies

We recently shared with you Martin's desire to study bugs and their habitats and, therefore, our acquisition of "pets" Boris and Natasha, a pair of Hercules Beetles.  Halloween celebrations are full of bugs, spiders and other things that crawl that often make people's skin crawl.  Wasps, beetles, moths and some slimy friends are depicted, in extraordinary detail, in our Animal collection of custom hardware.  Also included are less "scary" hardware designs such as dragonflies, butterflies, pretty birds and delightful bumble bees.

Introduce any one of these amazing custom hardware designs into your next project and enjoy their beauty for years to come.

To view our entire Animal or Lizard collection as well as our other lines of architectural hardware, please visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Anatomy of a bronze door handle--Part 2

Sketch is done and details as to how the sculpture will be attached to a door, how to design it so that it can be cast to allow wax and metal to properly flow through the mold and not weigh a ton, it is time to move on to the next step. (you can review the first steps here). To make the mold for the body a pliant silicon membrane over the outside of the body and the legs has to be built-up.  At this stage you are also “gating” the mold by adding square rod sections to the body of the bird. The silicon will from a membrane around these rods and when these rods are later removed what is left is a hollow or void  through which the hot wax is poured . The mold is strengthened by being housed in a rigid metal case that keeps it true to form. Once the mold is complete it is literally cut down the middle and opened up to remove the rods and the result is a hollow replica of the birds body with funnels that have been created through which wax and later bronze can flow.

The next step is to pour  molten wax into the hollow mold through the gates and slosh it around, coating the inside of the mold with liquid wax.  When the wax is dry, the mold is carefully opened and the wax body is removed with the  gates or protrusions attached.

We now have a one piece wax bird replica that is hollow inside and we need to turn it into a bronze piece that is hollow.

We cut around the birds legs and around a bit  of his stomach to create a hole in the cavity of the wax body; we are going to cast the feet, stomach and wings as separate pieces. What we are left with is 4 parts of our bird, all in wax.  Each wax piece is dipped in a clay like substance similar to the way we created the rubber mold, building up a clay slurry over each part of the bird to create a plaster like “shell” for each piece.  When dry this slurry becomes rigid and forms a casing. With the bird body we will pour the slurry inside the hollow wax body and also coat the outside of the body so that, when fired,  both the inside and outside will become a hollow ,walled shell.  These "shelled" pieces are then baked in a kiln that will make them very rigid and strong.  The heat causes the soft wax to melt out and collect at the bottom of the kiln, hence the expression "lost wax".  Actually, not really lost but rather recycled.  Even artists in ancient times recognized the value of re-using and recycling products.

All of these steps will result in a beautiful piece of functional art that can be used as a door pull to create an extraordinary entrance to a business or home, or enjoyed as wall art.  This will become evident in our final post on the sculpting and casting process for this particular piece of architectural hardware.

You can view our entire collection of custom hardware at www.martinpierce.com.

Tools of the trade for custom hardware

While we agree that the most important tools for any creative profession is the brain, the imagination and the hands, there are other man-made tools that do make the job easier and add those all-important details that can turn a hunk of clay, stone or metal into a work of art.  Chisels of varying sizes, hammers, mallets, knives and vises all play an important role in the final outcome of a piece of sculpture, custom hardware or furniture.

Over the years we have sporadically shared with you some of the tools that Martin uses when creating his sculptures and custom hardware molds.  As you can see from some of the photos, Martin does have his favorites that bear the marks of years of use.  But, like most things, they just get better with time.

Here is the result of the carving seen in the above photo---our lizard door pulls.  The close-up photo makes it possible for you to see the amazing detail and realism on the lizards and the backplate accomplished through the use of all of Martin's carving tools.

We would love to hear what tools you find useful in your job.  And if you would like to view our collection of architectural hardware, custom furniture and unique sculptures, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.

Anatomy of a bronze door handle

We introduced the beginnings of our jay sculpture with a post back in August of 2014. After working on the piece we decided to offer it as a limited edition of 25 sculpture that can be hung on the wall or fitted for use as door pulls.  As with any bespoke item, the creative process involves many steps. As we have shared many times, all sculptures and our custom door hardware pieces begin with a detailed sketch of Martin's vision for the piece or, in this instance, many photographs of his inspiration i.e. the red tailed hawk we see flying above the skies of Los Angeles.

Red tailed Hawk Martin Pierce Hardware

martin pierce redtail hawk on utility pole

As mentioned, when Martin began the jay sculpture in wood it was always his intention to use this sculpture as a pattern to make bronze door handles.   Therefore, when designing the bird there were three very important considerations:

The first consideration was a) how would you, as a home or business owner,  be able to grip a section of the bird to pull open your door and b) how would you be able to mount the bird on your door?

These considerations affected the way Martin designed the wings.  The left wing has a flatter area which can be used to attach the bird to the door and the right wing is the area that would make it possible to grip and hold to open the door. The tail of the bird could also be used as a secondary spot to attach the bird to the door if necessary.

The second consideration was the casting process. In casting you have to think about ways that the molds can be made so that  first the wax,  and then  later the bronze, can flow easily. To do this you have to plan where you are going to create “gates” or funnels or paths for the wax and bronze to evenly flow.

The third consideration is weight.  In order to avoid having the "bird" weigh a ton, so to speak, the casting of the body must be hollow.

Once all these details were ironed out it was time to begin sculpting the mold.  Details to follow on that very interesting process as well as casting, pouring etc.  So stay tuned!

To view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware you can visit our site at www.martinpierce.com.

Dreams really do come true--a trip to the land of Gaudi

We are about to embark on the dream vacation of a life-time.  We are off to Spain where we will be paying homage to famed architect Antoni Gaudi.  This will include visits to as many of his avante-garde buildings as we can comfortably fit in during our stay.

Part of the Modernista movement, Gaudi's work was heavily influenced by his personal life that included a love of architecture, nature and his strong Catholic faith.  Unique crafts such as ceramics, wrought iron, stained glass and woodwork were integrated into his architecture, complimenting both gothic and art nouveau forms.  In my opinion, this gave his work a lovely, comic touch.  There are very few architects/designers who manage to make me smile, but his work certainly does.

As you may know the Art Nouveau movement has been, for Martin, one of his major sources of inspiration.  His fondness for the works of Hector Guimard, Emile Galle and Victor Horta have been mentioned over the years. That said, while Gaudi’s work is often described as being part of this movement it really stands alone as singularly daring in its artistic scope and complex execution.

The places we have chosen to visit are:

La Familia Sagrada -- seen in the photo above, this famous ongoing project is one that no one seems sure when it will be completed, although it is currently scheduled for completion in 2026 which will mark the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death.

Colonia Guell and Crypt-- where we will see the crypt, church and research lab that is service to the craftsman working on La Familia Sagrada

Parc Guell – the site originally designed as a type of planned community for the wealthy 

Casa Batllo--  magnificent Battlo family residence that showcases Gaudi's use of the ornamental trades for both form and function.  For example, wrought iron was used to create stair railings that are also structurally supportive; whimsical stained glass windows filter the harsh sunlight and animal forms make an appearance and play a prominent role in the overall design of the building.  

From Barcelona we will be travelling southwest to Granada for a week and being treated to even more unusual architecture including the Alhambra.  Here we hope to spend quite a bit of our time being inspired by the ancient Arabic inscriptions and incredible details.  We look forward to sharing details of our trip with all of you.

You can view our entire collection of architectural and custom hardware at www.martinpierce.com.