A Dockyard glassblower has crafted a $15,000 prototype for a light fixture he hopes will be a hit with businesses and hotels on the Island.

The design will not be completed for some months, however Dockyard Glassworks CEO and manager Tony Johns said he anticipates the finished product will be a considerable size – 250 pounds in weight, measuring approximately four feet wide and five feet deep.

Once proven, the fixture will be scaled down and marketed for private use.

As explained by Mr. Johns, the aim was to expand his company's clientele. Located at the Royal Naval Dockyard, the store is largely patronised by tourists who are drawn by its flame-worked glass, fused glass jewellery and glass beads. Items manufactured are sold here and abroad. The CEO's desire is to tap into the local market by offering a greater variety of products.

"We are trying to create a fixture that is usual and exciting, something a bit more artistic to what we have done in the past," he said. "In the past we have made some wall sconces but what we are looking to do is create a small room in our store to hang fixtures for sale in."

Mr. Johns estimates that the prototype will be ready for viewing and sale next year, possibly in April.

"The prototype that I am currently working on will take some time to get right. The light fixture is made up of 65 different pieces of glass called nodes. Each node takes about 20 minutes to make and we will probably make about five per day."

He said it will take about a week to assemble all of the nodes and three weeks to make one fixture. However, because he is still working on what that one fixture will look like, the process will take some time.

"After we have mastered this fixture, we will be looking to make smaller versions and sconces for homes," the glassblower added.