Retired Spiritiles / Click for Selection
A mainstay of Leon & Lulu, Houston Llew's Spiritiles marry luminous enameled imagery with poignant text to capture emotion and moments in time.
As all good things must come to an end, so does the life cycle of Spiritiles.
Being collectible, the value of each Spiritile increases the moment that they are no longer in the active collection.
The value is always based upon when the Spiritile was retired, how long it was available, how many are estimated to currently be out in the world and of course the condition of the Spiritile itself.
Every one of Houston Llew's Spiritiles reflects a piece of our story. These icons stretch our memory and bring to mind the people we love, the things we cherish and the passions we pursue. When collected, Spiritiles become a montage of moments that make us smile, laugh, remember, and dare to dream.
The enamling process begins with laying powdered glass, or “frit,” onto a perfectly cut copper canvas, using a series of stencils for each layer of color, playing cards and hand sifters to carve out the design. Once delicately aligned and layered, the glass and metal is carefully placed in the red-hot kiln.
When the enameled piece is removed from the kiln it's cooled under a planchet the natural “CRAZING" or cracking occurs in enamel. It increases the luminescence of the glass. By rolling a pin over the surface of each piece after cooling, the light refraction in the glass increases and the enamel becomes malleable enough to frame.
Made by hand with USA-sourced copper, glass enamel, and a custom wood box frame.
Measures: 8.5" x 5.25" x 1.75"
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Presented with artist information in Designer Gift Box