Bengaluru, India
Foleydesigns’ Piece line of ceramic bells is designed in Bone China with an underlying focus on finding a potential alternative to the traditional process of sand casting of brass bells typically produced in India.
The bell construct and material acoustically open the collection to a range of mellow sounds.
A combination of ceramic outer bodies and a range of beater materials creates a diverse range of acoustic qualities.
For its design philosophy, the project has been awarded a 2023 Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The bell geometry and construction are designed to seamlessly embed functionality into sinuous and beautiful forms.
Slip-casting of ceramic allows for the creation of monolithic bulged forms that uniquely interlock a beater mechanism internally.
An expandable silicon funnel compresses to lock into the bulged volume holding a choice of beaters, ranging from mallet rubber to hard and softwoods.
The geometry and material properties of the beaters combined with ceramic body contours create an opportunity for a beautiful array of unique sounding bells.
The bulge element of the bell additionally works as a grip and acoustically isolates the effect of physical handling on the mellow sounds it creates.
In addition, the production process of the Piece bells opens up a unique opportunity for aesthetic enhancement using techniques typically used to decorate ceramic tableware through glazing, decals, and surface textures.
Project: Piece – Ceramic Bells
Designers: Foley Designs Pvt. Ltd.
Lead Designer: Michael Foley
Manufacturer: Foley Designs Pvt. Ltd.
