Rococo Shells Construction Page
SunLightSteppers, Inc, ™
Featuring extravagantly ornate custom sea shell designs made with exquisitely beautiful sea shells. Rococo Shells are gathered from Oceans and Seas that circle the globe. We thank the many talented divers who make it possible for us to provide some of the world's finest shells in our Interior Design Shell Products.
Each Shell Product featured here was hand made in the Rococo Studios in Waverly Hall, Georgia, United States of America. A small sample of Rococo Studio work is pictured above. Custom work is usually available.
Heirloom Quality Shell Mirrors & Products
Each Rococo Product is made to become an heirloom. Our engineering consultant designs our product specifications to have the highest quality endurance with overdone construction. We want Rococo Shell Products to last for a very long time. Each piece is signed assuring you that your work of art it is an authentic Rococo Piece. Mirrors weigh from 25 lbs. to 250 lbs.
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| Heavy Duty Construction! The Entire Backside of Each Mirror Is Covered With 1/2" of Wood To Add Strength & Protection To Your Mirror! |
| Mirrors Are Shipped In 2 Custom Built Wooden Boxes. Mirrors Are Packed With Protective Materials, and Insured. |
Rococo Shells
Website:
Custom Designed Interior Sea Shell Accent Pieces
Heirloom Quality Architectural Pieces
Powder Room Mirrors, Boudoir Mirrors
Large Commercial Mirrors, Art Grouping Mirrors
Hurricane Lamps, Large Pedestal Candle Holders
Table Centerpieces, Chandeliers & More
Deborah Owens
Rococo Shells
(706) 577- 5733 Box 400 Waverly Hall, GA 31831
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Buyer Beware- Informed Buyer Info
Brief Info on Shell Mirrors
We only apply shells to unpainted, untreated raw wood.
Shells applied to painted/stained wood will fall off eventually. When shells are applied to painted wood the application is only as good as the paint. If the paint is the substrate, when it peels, flakes, or curls, the shells will fall off. Shells will fall off of painted wood no matter what glue is used.
Shells applied to manufactured mirrors with wood that is either painted or stained will not last. The shells will fall off. Craft glues and 99% of all other glues will not work over time. Craft glues, Elmer's, Liquid Cement, Gorilla Glue and Liquid Nail glue will not work as they do not allow for the differing thermal expansions of the substrate and applications.
I have people call me all of the time with shell mirrors that are coming apart. One interior designer purchased 15 commercial mirrors, at $1500-3500 each, and the shells were falling off. The designer had to buy the mirrors back! She asked me to provide replacements.
Most manufactured mirrors do not have adequate strength to hold the weight of the shells without buckling, warping or cracking. A shell mirror needs a strong back to protect the mirror frame from buckling from the weight of the shells. That is why we use a completely wooden back for all of our mirrors. Not only does it protect the glass mirror but it sustains the shell application and mirror frame with structured support.
At Rococo Shells we are professionals. Art is our life's passion and we intend to create Rococo Shell products that will last a lifetime and beyond.
1. All shells are applied to raw wood. Painted & stained wood, will not hold the shells for long.
2. We use a Commercial Adhesive that is applied with compressors and syringes. It is not an easy process.We have to wear masks to apply the adhesive.
3. All mirrors are constructed on site by a master carpenter.
4. The back of the mirror and frame are completely covered with 3/4" wood.
4. The hanging mechanism is bolted clean through both the front frame and the back-side wood.
5. Shells are procured from reliable sources that do not harvest endangered species.
6. The shells are placed in a woven pattern with great artistic attention to color combinations, and contrasts of color, texture, size and luminosity.
7. Shells are layered to completely cover the wood in many layers. There are 3-7 layers of shells, creating a depth of shell luminosity and color. This is 4-5 times more work than it would be to apply a single layer to painted wood.
8. Mirrors take between 40- 600 hrs. to complete.
Rococo Shells Interior Design Products are works of art, not crafts/hobby projects.
We are very serious about providing the best quality possible to our customers. Please call us with questions. We can custom design mirrors with your colors, for your decor.
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Mirror Construction
Your mirror is not made from a purchased lightweight wooden frame, as are many shell mirrors these days! Many shell mirrors have a thin particle board, or even paper backing, or even no backing at all, behind the mirror!
We go a little overboard. 'Overdoing it', would be an accurate assessment!
Rococo Mirrors are all custom made and hand constructed from top quality materials. We start with raw wood and custom build your unique piece with the highest grade interior materials! We adorn your heavy weight custom frame with exquisitely beautiful shells that come from the oceans and the seas all around the entire globe. We take great satisfaction in the slow, times-taking methods of shell application, knowing these methods will better produce an heirloom quality piece.
Mirrors
Most of the mirrors are one quarter inch glass with one inch, or one and one half inch, bevel. Generally, we special order one quarter inch glass, with a bevel, from the manufacturer. Some larger mirrors require a thicker piece of glass, though we try not to go to the thicker glass, unless it is absolutely necessary, as the thicker glass adds a lot of weight to the piece.
We prefer not to have our mirrors cut to order from local shops, because to do so will often leave the edge of the mirror vulnerable to deterioration in a period of 2, or so, years. When mirrors are cut locally and, even when the edges are sealed, the mirrors will sometimes start to deteriorate, along the edges, if they are exposed to high humidity.
We have found that it is best to purchase the mirrors directly from the manufacturer, rather than have them cut and use an application of sealant.
Beveled glass is our preference, but some mirror designs work best without the bevel, so we will occasionally order mirrors without the bevel from the manufacturer.
Mirror Frames
The mirror frames are made of one half to three quarter inch interior grade hardwood. The frames vary in width from 3 inches to twelve inches wide! Yes the twelve inch width is a very ornate mirror, and it is extravagantly overdone, hence the name Rococo! The mirrors are set into the frame with pins and gel.
Mirror Backing
The entire backside of the mirror and frame are covered with a heavy duty interior grade hardwood. For most pieces we use either a one half inch thick or a three quarter inch thick wood. The wood always covers the entire frame and mirror, on the back side. This protects the back of the mirror and provides support for the shell application on the front of the frame. The shells, which are usually applied in many, many layers, in order to totally cover the raw wood, will often add quite a few pounds to the total weight. The back is unpainted, unoiled, and unstained and should stay untreated. Paints, oils and stains can seep through the wood and frame, to the adhesive layer and even impact the strength of the adhesive.
Shell Application
Cleaned shells are applied to naked wood with specially designed commercial adhesives and methods. The process requires special masks, gloves and ventilation. Special adhesive dispensers and compressors are used to release the smallest amount of adhesive that will produce a good bond.
Shell Application to Painted Wood, Acrylics, Metals
When shells are applied to painted wood, the adhesive is only as good as the adherence of the paint to the wood. Additionally, applying shells to metals means that when rust occurs, and all metals will eventually corrode, then the shells will fall off with the rust. We prefer not to apply shells to plastics, acrylics, metals, or painted surfaces.
It would be much easier to apply the shells to a painted surface as then only one layer of shells would be needed. It would be much cheaper, easier and far quicker for us to apply shells to painted surfaces. However, we continue applying many additional layers of shells, one atop the other to cover the wood as completely as possible, rather than apply only one layer of shells to a painted surface. Applying 3-7 layers of shells takes much more time than applying one layer to a painted surface, and 3-7 layers of shells creates a depth and beauty that far exceeds a single layer of shells. Additionally, we are seeking a generational piece of art, not a piece that is good for only a few years, so we continue our age old method of many layers of shell application on naked wood, providing the greatest adhesion for the longest period of time.
Shell Adhesive
Many people and competitors ask us: "What glue do you use?". It is a trade secret! The adhesive combinations we use were developed by my father, who is an engineer, physicist, inventor and resident genius. The adhesives dry clear. The adhesives are basically waterproof, but should not be kept outside, as the elements could harm the adhesives, the wood and the shells. It is long lived but the adhesive can be harmed by solvents. Some people ask what are solvents? Many things contain solvents: oil paints, paint cleaners, household cleaners, and cleaning fluids. Your piece of art is built to last, but if you use solvents on the shells or the wood it can seep through those surfaces and harm the adhesive. It is the strongest adhesive we can use, but it, like most adhesives, can be harmed by solvents. Please do not use any window cleaning products, furniture oils, oil paint, acetone, or any other chemical or cleaner on the piece. Please do not even use products on the back side of the piece, as solvents can travel through the wood to the surface and harm the adhesive. We want the piece to be an archival quality piece with generations of use. Please do not use any chemicals on the wood or mirror at all.
As shells and the substrate, wood, have different rates of thermal expansion we suggest all shell designs be kept indoors, and out of direct sun exposure for best long-life results. While the adhesive is basically waterproof, the wood can be impacted by water, with buckling, warping and loss of shells and mirror. Additionally, direct sunlight exposure can cause a slight yellowing of the adhesive. Special attention has been given to create a shell adhesive that will allow, as much as is possible, for the differential thermal expansion rates of shells and substrate. Our special formula shell adhesive allows for as many factors as is possible, but proper care should be given to all quality products.
Clean your shell art with a soft damp cloth, dampened only with water.
Layers of Shells Create a Special Glowing Radiance!
Proper application of many layers of shells to the wood is very time consuming, arduous and painstaking. It is like a chess game, one must think many, many moves ahead of the present shell placement. The shells must all fit together like a puzzle in a pleasing pattern. As you may have noted by now, we are perfectionists and no detail is too small for us to attend.
Hanging the Mirror and Removal of Shipping Crates
The mirrors are prepared to be hung upon arrival. If the mirror is shipped there will be a wooden frame that will need to be detached from the mirror. The mirrors are often so heavy that it takes two men to lift and hang them. Please call us to thoroughly discuss the uncrating of your mirror prior to attempting to uncrate it.
Mirrors should be laid flat on the floor when they are removed from the box. Propping the mirror against the wall is not advised. If the mirror is propped up or stood up, the mirror might fall and crack or break. Additionally, many mirrors have shells along the bottom rim, or side edges of the mirror, if the mirror is stood on end or on a side the shells can be broken.
As mentioned earlier, the mirrors are two pieces of heavy hardwood bolted together. The mechanism for hanging usually consists of heavy wire rope cable that is attached to bolts that go entirely through the two pieces of thick hardwood. The bolts are covered by shells on the front of the frame. The bolts may have an eye on the back side of the mirror, through which the heavy wire rope cable is threaded and then bolted together.
The mirror has a wooden frame/rib, or two by four, around the perimeter of the mirror for shipping. Layers of foam and soft packing materials cover the mirror and the wooden rib forms a foundation for the large protective wooden box that is built around the mirror. Then there are more layers of soft and firm packing materials. That box is then covered with yet another wooden box for shipping purposes. Each shipping crate is custom made for your mirror. Please call us to discuss uncrating your mirror prior to attempting to uncrate it.
The packing for the mirror consists of coverings of soft materials closest to the shells and mirror, next there are layers of foam board, then there is a wooden box, followed by more foam board and yet another wooden box. You have two custom made wooden boxes around your new mirror.
They are packed as securely as possible, and are, of course, insured for breakage when shipped. We need to try to prevent breakage, as it make take us a couple of months to rebuild your mirror. If you can possibly pick your mirror up, it is preferred, and usually quicker and more reliable.
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Call us to discuss picking up your piece, shipment and uncrating.
Mirrors should be hung on large and deep hangers that are placed in wall studs.
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Rococo Shells
Deborah Owens
Box 70
Waverly Hall, GA 31831
706 577 5733
Office Hrs. 1-4:00 Eastern M-F Usually, But Call and Leave Message Anytime, We Will Call You Back As Quickly As Possible.
SunLightSteppers@aol.com
Deborah Owens
Rococo Shells website is constantly updated, so please hit your "Refresh Button" when you visit so that you can see our additions. All photos on this site are copyright protected. All rights reserved, copyright 2009
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