HENGE Pendant — How It's Made

From Glass Block to Floating Structure — The Silver Pipe and Polyhedral Glass

Making the Glass

Each HENGE glass form is made in our Tokyo studio using our approach to [pate de verre](/en/journal/our-glass-technique). We (Yu and Kanako) mix crushed glass with color powder and pigment, pack the mixture into a plaster mold, and fire it in a kiln. After firing, we break open the mold, and the glass comes out as a solid block. We then cut and grind it by hand into its polyhedral shape. Internal bubbles and color variations make every piece one of a kind.

HENGE pendant, glass and silver, detail of the through-structure

HENGE pendant, glass and silver, detail of the movable silver ring

The Silver Pipe Structure

In the HENGE pendant, the polyhedral glass motif is pierced and suspended by a silver pipe that passes through its interior. Rather than fastening at the surface, the supporting force itself takes visible form — creating a light, open structure where the relationship between weight and support is transparent.

HENGE pendant, glass and silver, in light from another angle

HENGE pendant, glass and silver, changing silhouette (another angle)

Light and Tension — A Dignified Balance

The polyhedral glass motifs, each with a unique shape, quietly change their expression as they receive light from different angles. The silver rings are finished to be movable — by adjusting their position, the pendant's silhouette shifts to match one's mood and outfit. Silver lines intersect with geometric glass forms, creating a composition that balances precision with organic warmth.

HENGE is a pendant characterized by a dignified balance between lightness and tension — the same equilibrium that ancient builders discovered when they raised stones toward the sky.