This Feadship booklet is published in conjunction with
our Jewels in the Crown presentation. If you’re reading
this you’ve most likely also seen our unique work of art
in pressed glass, hand-made by craftsmen at the top of
their game.
At Feadship, we believe it is our duty to recognise and
honour the marvellously creative minds of our clients with
a spectacular display at the major boat exhibitions. In
previous years we’ve unveiled showstoppers such as ‘The
Story of Uniquity’ film, which went on to win a World Medal
at the New York International TV & Film Awards. And who
can forget the Carte Blanche Experience, which allowed
stand visitors to discover their Feadship DNA via an intuitive
interactive journey and live-action sketches.
This year we’ve gone even further still, devoting months
to designing and creating the majestic The Jewels in the
Crown display. Featuring the profiles of well over 300 of the
450-plus Feadships launched over the past seventy years,
it is a dedicated tribute to our fleet, Feadship owners past
& present and our royal connections.
Just like precious gems, no two Feadships are the same and
each is a work of art. This industry-defining fact was the
inspiration behind our glittering The Jewels in the Crown
presentation.
The display consists of individually pressed pieces of
circular glass, each containing a Feadship profile that has
been screen-printed by hand. The kaleidoscope of colours
and gradations reflects the changing hues of the water
as seen from a moving yacht, while the different sizes
represent the various dimensions of Feadships.
MAKING THE JEWELS
IN THE CROWN
Founded in 1919, the Van Tetterode Glass Studio in Amsterdam
has created monumental glass projects for a range of
renowned institutions, including the Van Gogh museum
and the ‘States of Inflammation’ installation made for Ane
Graff at the Bienale Venice Nordic Pavilion. The firm is
specialised in one-off premium quality pieces, each
developed from scratch (à la Feadship). In addition to the
company’s proven creative flair, Feadship was also attracted
by the way Van Tetterode has brought the technique of
pressed glass back into fashion.
In taking on this pure custom project for Feadship, the
design team knew the artwork would have to blend glitter
with grandeur in a unique way. The initial designs were
loosely based on the Fibonacci sequence, frequently found
in nature including in the patterns of sea shells. There are
also elements of waves incorporated, with depth being
given to the glass in the form of gems. After first choosing
a beautiful blue in line with Feadship branding, seven other
related colours were developed to reflect the changing
hues one sees when sun hits the water.
The Jewels in the Crown masterpiece is comprised of
hundreds of circular pieces of glass in four sizes ranging
from 80 mm to 140 mm. Liquid glass was poured into a
mould custom-made by cast bronze experts, then pressed
down using a piece of graphite until it became a solid piece
of glass.
The top layer of each piece was ground down to ensure a
completely flat surface on which the profiles of more than
300 individual Feadships were carefully glued. The profiles
were each added by hand into a ring inside out so as to
conceal the sides. A lovely faceted finish to each ring and
profile adds to the precious gem feeling.
Finally, the different pieces of glass were added to
the collective whole of the display in the last stage of a
meticulous process that took several months and required
investments in tailor-made equipment to complete.
