$ 8 000 USD
The bouclier
Each base is unique, hand-crafted by a French master glass-worker.
The dome protects your Persee timepiece in both horizontal and vertical configurations.
$ 2 900 USD
Delivery within 1 month
- Dimensions: diameter: 32cm; height: 31cm
- Weight: 3.40kg
- Hand-blown glass
Unique artisanal piece
Secure payment
Secure delivery
The origins of
the Persée Bouclier
In November 2023, on our way back from the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie awards in Geneva Benoît and I stopped off in the Burgundy region of France at an artisanal workshop called ‘Atelier George’.
This is the studio where Eve George and Laurent Fichot demonstrate their mastery of the art of glass-blowing. Between them, they bring glass to life, exploring its textures, transparency and highlights as they sublimate every subtle detail of the material.
We were won over by their expertise; together, we came up with the idea of the Bouclier for Persée. Drawing inspiration from the constellation of Persée and the related myth, the Bouclier is designed to enhance your timepiece, while the dome itself protects it and the movement it contains.
Alcée Montfort
Manufacturing secrets
Work on the Bouclier begins with the manufacture of a mould made of turned wood that defines the shape and proportions of the piece; Eve and Laurant then burn in the surface of the mould before immersing it in water.
On average, the base calls for some three kilograms of molten glass to be prepared for blowing; this is then dusted with fragments of silvered glass fragments. These particles acquire a distinctive sparkle when exposed to fire, with a result that is unique to each finished piece.
The molten mass is rotated at the end of a rod and blown several times in succession, gradually increasing its volume. Ensuring the piece is constantly rotated at just the right temperature is vital to ensure the molten glass does not start to run due to gravity; the glass is shaped at temperatures of between 600 and 1150 °C. Eve and Laurent then have to perform a whole series of carefully-rehearsed actions to complete the finished piece before it cools and sets.
The last stage takes place in the mould after it has been soaked in water. The glass bubble is blown directly into the hollowed-out recess; the mould is then placed in an annealing kiln for around twelve hours.
Then it’s time for the final finishing touches to be applied; the piece is cut and fashioned using traditional machine tools including a saw, a lapidary stone, a grinder and a polisher. Cutting is done with a diamond, which is harder than glass.
Protect and sublimate
The Bouclier draws on extensive formal research involving 3-D drawing and modelling, colour samples and existing blown glass decorations.
Each Persée Bouclier crafted by the George studio has its own individual personality. With its deep highlights, the base appears to be suspended in a starry sky amid a deep midnight blue glass backdrop.
Your timepiece can be displayed on the base in either horizontal or vertical configuration.
The accompanying dome protects it from outside influences such as dust, as well as subtly softening the tick-tock of your timepiece; it’s the perfect companion for your handiwork and your horological adventure.
The Persée Bouclier can also be used to showcase other favourite items of yours. It’s the perfect setting for any artefact, preserving it with care and elegance.
