Oh!

OBJECT HAVOC LTD

All our current products are made by hand so each item varies slightly.

We veneer materials such as razor shell, bamboo, jungle vine and sand (to name a few) onto fibreglass shapes. The use of fibreglass is vital as this is the only medium that has minimum movement caused by variations in air temperature.  Wood, for example, expands and contracts with heat or humidity causing veneers to crack; cracking is something we as a company want to avoid at all costs.

After the material has bonded with the fibreglass we then infill with clear or coloured resin. When this has cured, the item is rubbed down to a smooth surface and the final finishing is completed such as painting the lip of a vase or felting the underside.

Most of our products are made in the Philippines which, whilst not the safest country in the region nor is it the cheapest to manufacture, has honest labour structures in place which enable us to audit wages, working conditions and sustainable materials which come from renewable sources which can be traced. It is worth mentioning that no natural material either from land or sea is endangered, and we take all possible steps that our products are ethically sourced & produced.  Many of our products are UK designed, and all are exclusive to Oh! within the UK.

 

 

Vine- jungle vine strands inlaid with resin

Our Darter vases (sold in pairs) use Jungle Vine, which we split into thin strips and veneer onto the fibreglass darter shape.  All our vine vases have a similar appearance to stripy wood, so it is worth mentioning that these are in fact long vine strands.

Jungle vine has to be conditioned after being cut, so we dry them for around one month to reduce the moisture content and then work with it immediately.

We then infill the spaces in between the jungle vine strips with coloured resin, wait for that to cure, then smooth and polish to a finish that passes our QC. The vases are then painted in the appropriate colour and have the base covered in black felt.

 

Coco Mesh- young palm fronds

The Charmer Vases are sold in Pairs. These vases, over a metre tall, are also fibreglass shapes that have been veneered on one side with Coco Mesh; these are the fluffy fronds you find on top of palm trees. The same attention to detail is applied and the item is finished with black felt on the base and QC checked before being packaged.

 

Shell Balls- delicate white Vertagus Trumpet seashells

Using fibreglass to create a ball shape, each individual shell is cut and glued to the ball using an adhesive that combines with the fibreglass ensuring a strong bond. We recommend that a competent electrician be employed as the Shell Ball shade has a reasonable weight but comes complete with ceiling fixings, adjustable flex and support wire. Some shells we crush such as the blue Abalone laid on to our Fishes dishes.

 

Razor Shell- shells inlaid with sand

Razor Shell Platter. This large dish starts life as a fibreglass shape. Sand and Razor shells (so called as these shells look like cut-throat razors used before the safety razor was invented) are employed in this design. The shells are washed, dried and polished then veneered onto the rim and edge of the dish; resin mixed with sand is applied to the centre and left to cure. Empty spaces are filled with more resin and this too is left to cure. The platter is then sanded and polished to a smooth finish. Loose sand that works its way through to the top or base of the platter can be gently smoothed down using a regular nylon scourer used for washing up.  The surface can be polished with a furniture spray or natural beeswax.

 

Bamboo- spliced Bamboo

This platter is constructed in the same way as the razor shell dish starting with the fibreglass platter; the spliced bamboo is veneered in a sunburst pattern and inlayed with black resin. When cured and polished and painted it is ready for packing.

  

Mango Leaf fire accessories

Made from recycled mild steel each of the mango leaves are hand welded to each stem and the product is then coated with a light bronze colour and verdigris finish. It should be pointed out that the fire screen is not a fireguard and should be used decoratively.  

 

Cloud t/light holder or vase swathed in abaca fibre

Cloud t-light or vase. The fabric is made from Abaca fibre, which is a relative of the banana tree; the fibres are woven into an open weave and treated with starch and fire retardant. The starch helps to stiffen the fabric so it can be shaped into something similar to a rose head or cloud. Within and in the centre is a large glass votive which you can either put a lit t-light candle or use as a vase.

 

Barnacles

We use a marble-like stone called Crystal Stone which is cut into squares, one side being concave to fit the shape it will be veneered too. These are then bonded onto the design shape; the stone is rubbed to a smooth finish. The crystal stone dust is mixed with resin to infill between each square and when cured this is then polished smooth. The Pacific barnacle clusters are a striking reddish purple natural colour and are harvested from the tropical waters ranging from the Indian Ocean through Indonesian to the northern shores of Australia, then cleaned sorted and shaped. Each barnacle cluster is then individually set around the vase or bowl as the design dictates.

 

Woodstone- stone like wood

This fossilised wood turned to soft stone has all of the wood grain visible.  Cut into small shapes these are veneered onto the fibreglass shape and gently smoothed then sealed.

We also use Crystal stone, which has a white marble look.

 

Shelley- Black Faunus seashells inlaid in resin

These planters and vases are inlaid with the spiral shape Faunus shell, which is sliced and laid in the pattern you see, then resin filled; as usual each slice is laid by hand.

 

Wildside- resin horns

At first we wanted real horn from domesticated animals; this proved impossible. Although we all want to use as much of a renewable resource as possible we found that some western European cultures (mainly British) felt more comfortable with resin horn rather than the real thing. There would have been supply issues as well, as the Tuskany console and side table with its familiar shape clearly had to be made in resin.

We use Bi-Cast leather rather than full hide as it is readily obtainable, easy to clean and hard wearing.   

 

Coco Tooth Lamps and Shades- dried coconut husks

The coconut husks are bought from a local coconut factory, which makes desiccated coconut and coconut milk, the fibre having been stripped from the nut would be used as matting or as mattress filler. The Husks are split and cut into finger shaped strips, a hole is drilled at the broad end then salted and sun bleached. Each finger is stitched onto a metal wire grid, which makes up the shade.

 

Cleaning and Care.   

Please do not put water inside any vases as leaks may damage the vase or any furniture it may be standing on.  A light polish using household spray wax polish is fine for almost all items. Do not use polish on any of the shell vases or lamps - gently using a very soft brush, or lightly dabbing with the brush tool on your vacuum should do.