Incredible sculpture dedicated to Waterford's history of glassmaking is unveiled
A sculpture dedicated to Waterford’s legacy in glass has been created by a local man who spent over two years on the project.
The incredibly detailed sculpture of a glassblower is two metres in height, and was created as a passion project by retiree Frank Hamm.
“For more than three centuries, Waterford’s identity has been shaped by the noble craft of glassmaking, a tradition famed for its brilliance” Frank said, "yet no public monument stood to honour this luminous heritage or the generations of artisans who sustained it.
“In retirement, and with time to devote to the task, I undertook its creation. Over two years, I designed and fashioned a sculpture, two metres in height, crafted chiefly from reclaimed materials, as a lasting tribute to Waterford’s enduring legacy in glass.”
Frank is well known in Waterford.
He operated various restaurants and clubs in the city in the 70s, 80s and 90s, including Stonecourt on O’Connell Street, a once major restaurant in Waterford which later turned into a nightclub, the first of its kind in the city.
His family roots stretch back to Germany.
An artistic family at heart, Frank's grandfather and great-grandfather were violin makers from the Black Forest area.
The family's passion for creation clearly rubbed off on Frank, who ran a bronze castings business.
In retirement, he became a keen gardener and has dedicated increased time to working with his hands.
His latest creation is an almost 7 foot tall sculpture of a glassblower.
The sculpture is incredibly detailed and intricate, as Frank told us, “you need quite a few skills to be able to make something like this and I learned how to weld in order to make it. The main frame of the sculpture is steel, the skin is formed with fibreglass and finished with copper, so there are quite a variety of different skills involved in making it and to achieve the finish.”
The sculpture has already attracted significant attention across Waterford.
It remains to be seen however whether the statue will be placed publicly. Frank said the enjoyment he found in creating it had already made the effort worthwhile.
“Where it goes? I really don’t know. If it fits somewhere in the city that would be very nice, but I've really created it out of pure enjoyment.
“I put two years into it; I’ve enjoyed it and learned a lot. It has kept me active and that’s something we all need."
