Homage to the Nasrids

Waiting for this endless winter to breathe its last, I began a study of the artwork fixtures of the Alhambra Palace and Fortress Complex in Granada, Spain.  My particular focus has been the Islamic palaces built for the Nasrid Dynasty, which is home to some of the most stunning, detailed decorative architecture imaginable.  After studying endless photographs of mosaics and reliefs, I felt sufficiently inspired to create some designs of my own with a similar feel. In the Smash Glassworks signature style, I created a mosaic serving tray and a set of four mosaic coasters with an 'Alhambra' feel. The internal mosaic of the tray is constructed from small fragments of clear tempered glass, laid over a background hand-painted in turquoise, sea green, copper, antique gold, rattan and tangerine. The grout lines of the mosaic are hand-gilded with gold powder.  The surface of the mosaic is coated with a layer of clear epoxy for a smooth, durable surface. The scalloped-edge tray is constructed of wood, sanded to a high polish and finished in a rich espresso stain.  The finished size is 14.5"x14.5" The mosaic coasters are constructed from small fragments of clear tempered glass, laid over a hand-painted, cork backing, in turquoise, sea green, copper, antique gold, and rattan. Each grout line is hand-gilded with gold powder and finished with a clear protective sealant.  The cork backing of each coaster is stained in a complementary espresso and coated with a clear finish.  The coasters are 4" in circumference.