Macro Detail of Conchoidal Fracture on Clear Glass Slab, Mary, Mother of Priests Chapel

Description

An extreme macro photograph documenting the structural edge and fracture patterns of a clear "dalle de verre" (faceted glass) slab from the chapel's window installations.

The image features:

* Conchoidal Fractures: The left and lower edges display the distinctive smooth, curved, shell-like ripple patterns (conchoidal fracturing) created when thick slab glass is hand-chipped or shaped using a specialized chipping hammer (marteline). These faceted planes were engineered to catch and scatter incoming sunlight.

* Glass Inclusions: Trapped air bubbles and wave-like striations remain visible within the body of the transparent glass, illustrating the traditional casting methods used to create heavy dalle de verre material during the Mid-Century Modern period.

* Matrix Boundary: The glass piece is set closely against a dark, opaque matrix joint on the right, showing how individual custom-cut faceted pieces were fitted together to form cohesive iconographic designs.

* Conservation Focus: This detail serves as an archival reference for the specific glass craftsmanship and physical condition of the chapel’s artistic glasswork, capturing the tactile texture of the individual components prior to decommissioning.