PETER BEHRENS VASE 2.0

8 Dec

After the successful conclusion to the first part of the Peter Behrens Vase Replication Custom 3D Project, art historian and ceramics expert Rolf Hinderk Peters, returns to iterator.de one more time to take the project to the next level. To do this, the vase will require a new level of detail in preparation for a full-scale 3D printed replica…

“we achieved a lot in the first phase of the project, but the vase needed more studio time to get it to the level of detail I wanted. i became really committed to see the project though.”

Rolf Hinderk Peters (Art Historian/Ceramics Expert/Art Collector)

STEP ONE. DISCUSS.

“Shortly after we had finished the first round of development for the Behrens Vase project, Rolf came back to me to and asked if we could continue the project.

We made an appointment to sit down and talk about the goals and features that were critical to the vase design. We could both appreciate there being some limitations to constructing in CAD and the difficulties in replicating something with just a single photo (from 1906), but this was by no means a reason not to continue.

The vase has a series of reliefs with patterns that are layered. Each relief would have to be constructed independently of each other however, so that we could add further detail and refine each of them where and when it was necessary.

We had two small demo prints to aid us in communicating what was needed and how to go about it.”

— Cameron at iterator.de

Rolf Hinderk Peters (left) with Cameron (right) from iterator.de meeting to discuss the project.

Further vase detail added in CAD and rendered by iterator.de

STEP TWO.
ADD DETAIL.
RENDER IT.

“I began by stripping back and separating the initial attempts of the reliefs. The designs themselves are not complex, but getting them to sit properly on the vase surface was very time consuming because the vase base form was made from a bent, extruded profile.

Following this, I refined each relief with a series of path driven cuts and extrusions.

To finish up I went over each detail to remove any sharp corners and make adjustments wherever it was necessary. I also touched-up the foot of the vase and repaired any errors that had arisen from the changes being made to the form.

Lastly, I rendered the vase with some Ray Tracing and got in touch with Rolf. He was pleased with what we had accomplished and was looking forward to the final step.”

— Cameron at iterator.de

STEP THREE.
PRINT IT.

“With all the hard work done and getting the approval from Rolf, I went ahead and prepped the Behrens Vase for a full scale, FDM 3D print.

I wanted to make sure that no unnecessary support material would be added to the print, to preserve the features and keep the final result as clean as possible. The final size of the vase was going to be almost 400mm high and 300mm wide, so I wasn’t surprised to read the printing time estimation to be 5 days with 15% infill.

I checked in on the print morning, noon, and night to make sure the printer hadn’t run into any problems. The printhead was working furiously which was causing some minor wobbling which I wanted to reduce, so I clamped the printer base to the work bench.

After 5 days of patience and dedication, the vase was ready for post-processing!

I removed the support collar from the neck of the vase and performed a series of touch-ups wherever it was needed. Once all this was done I made an appointment with Rolf for him to take delivery of his replicated vase, inspired by his hero of German design - Peter Behrens.

Thank you so much for the opportunity Rolf. This was a great learning experience for us both and it’s an inspiration to have learned about Peter Behrens impact on German design.”

— Cameron at iterator.de