Some commissions are about creating a beautiful piece. Others become an opportunity to push craftsmanship to its limits.
When The SUPERULTRARARE®, a design studio based in Huddersfield whose clients include The Coca-Cola Company, commissioned glass artist Rob Walker (byUMBERTO) to create a large reverse gilded glass panel for their studio, the brief was anything but ordinary.
Designed to welcome visitors and provide a striking backdrop for online meetings with clients across the world, the finished piece brings together traditional craftsmanship, contemporary design, and an extraordinary level of detail.
A Long-Standing Creative Partnership
At Gold Leaf Supplies, we’ve had the pleasure of working with Rob Walker (byUMBERTO) for many years.
Over that time, we’ve watched his work continue to evolve, with every new commission pushing the boundaries of reverse glass gilding and traditional decorative techniques. His passion for the craft is evident in every project he undertakes, and we’re always excited to see what he’ll create next.
Many of Rob’s commissions feature products supplied by Gold Leaf Supplies, from gold leaf and specialist gilding materials to shell inlays and decorative finishes. It’s always rewarding to see these products become part of work that celebrates craftsmanship at such an exceptional level.
Beyond creating remarkable artwork, Rob is also a passionate supporter of traditional heritage crafts. His dedication to preserving techniques such as reverse glass gilding and brilliant cutting mirrors our own commitment to helping keep these valuable skills alive for future generations.
An Idea That Started on Graph Paper
Rather than presenting a polished digital concept, Rob took a different approach.
He arrived with three rolls of graph paper, each carefully drawn to scale by hand.
“I wanted to present something analogue to a client working in a fully digital output,” Rob explains.
The concept immediately resonated with founder and CEO Matthew Kenyon.
“Initially, we were going to fully work it all up together, but after seeing Rob’s visual response to some earlier chats we had around the company trademark assets, we decided to let Rob take it all the way.”
That trust gave Rob the creative freedom to develop a piece unlike anything else.
Celebrating Endangered Craftsmanship
This commission wasn’t simply about producing a decorative glass panel. It became an opportunity to showcase several traditional crafts now listed on the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts.
One of the most remarkable techniques used throughout the piece is brilliant cutting.
Every circular cut within the lettering and border was created entirely by hand, using a specialist lathe that Rob built specifically for this commission. Some of the stone cutting wheels used during the process date back to the 1800s.
With only a small number of practitioners still carrying out this technique in the UK today, each cut represents a craft that continues to survive through dedicated makers.
Layer Upon Layer of Craftsmanship
Looking at the finished panel, it’s easy to admire the overall design. Looking closer reveals just how much work lies beneath the surface.
The studio name alone combines multiple stages of water gilding, oil gilding, acid etching, hand-painted enamels, mother of pearl, abalone shell inlays supplied by Gold Leaf Supplies, and brilliant cutting.
Different shades of 24ct, 18ct red, 12ct white, and Moon Gold leaf, along with carefully selected gilding materials, have been layered to create movement, depth, and changing reflections as light moves across the glass. Every material has been chosen with purpose, demonstrating how traditional gilding products can become part of truly contemporary work.
No two viewing angles are quite the same.
A Story Hidden Within the Design
Every element of the commission carries meaning.
The three registered trademarks of The SUPERULTRARARE® flow diagonally across the glass, creating the illusion that they exist on different visual planes.
Hints of 1990s gaming graphics and the visual language of TRON appear throughout the typography, while details such as water-gilded bubbles reference the fizz of soft drinks.
Even the decorative border rewards closer inspection, featuring hand-cut punties, multi-coloured detailing, and gilded geometric forms inspired by classic arcade games.
The longer you spend with the piece, the more there is to discover.
A Collaborative Moment
One particularly memorable stage of the commission saw members of The SUPERULTRARARE® team visit Rob’s studio to take part in the making of the artwork.
Under Rob’s guidance, each member of the team water gilded part of their own studio name, becoming part of the story behind the finished commission.
It’s a detail that makes the artwork even more personal.
A Celebration of Traditional Techniques
Projects like this remind us why traditional gilding continues to inspire artists and makers today.
We’ve been proud to support Rob throughout his creative journey and have always admired his willingness to take on ambitious commissions that challenge both himself and the craft.
His dedication to preserving endangered heritage skills, while continually finding new ways to interpret them for modern audiences, is something we deeply value at Gold Leaf Supplies. It’s a passion we share, and one we’re committed to supporting through the materials we supply and the creative community we’ve built over the years.
We’d like to thank Rob for sharing the story behind this remarkable commission with us, for his continued support of Gold Leaf Supplies, and for everything he does to champion traditional craftsmanship. We can’t wait to see what he creates next.
Credits
Glass artwork: Rob Walker (byUMBERTO)
Commissioned by: The SUPERULTRARARE®
Film: Matt Black (@makeitmattblack)
