Verve goes through the looking glass with founders of Monmouth Glass Studio, Stephen Bradbourne and Isaac Katzoff.
How did the idea for Monmouth Glass come about?
We officially formed Monmouth Glass in 2012 having been blowing glass together on a casual basis for a few years previously, helping each other make our own personal gallery and production pieces. Around this time, we started making a few lights for friends and then the opportunity to work with Cheshire Architects on the Ortolana restaurant fitout came along. This was a breakthrough moment for us and really opened our eyes to the potential of handmade glass lighting and the possibilities of working with architects and designers to create small- and largescale bespoke lighting solutions. We then took over running the glass studio we’d previously been hiring and formed our company.
Tell us about the process of handblown glass?
The glass blowing process is ancient, dating back to pre-Roman times. In the studio we continue to honour these ancient traditions and techniques every day. Basically, everything starts with molten glass being gathered from the furnace on the end of a long metal blowpipe. The furnace is our main piece of equipment, it holds 200kg of molten glass and runs 24/7 keeping the glass at a constant temperature of 1,085C. Once the initial gather of glass is on the blowpipe, colour and decoration can be added. Then, more layers or gathers of molten glass are added, depending on how big the finished piece needs to be. Once the desired amount of glass is on the blowpipe, the piece is inflated and shaped. The completed piece is then broken off and placed in a kiln to cool slowly overnight.
What happens at your glass workshops?
They are a cup-making experience and basic introduction to the glass blowing process aimed at absolute novices. The classes are two hours long, with up to four students, led by an experienced and knowledgeable tutor. Students receive a full studio induction and health and safety briefing followed by a demo from the tutor before being guided through making their own cup or object that they can take home to show off to friends and family!
Where do you get your inspiration for designs?
Initially from mid-century objects and design – not only in glass, but also looking at ceramics, sculpture, furniture design, and architecture. Also, we find that a general knowledge of the broader glass history and an awareness contemporary makers and designers is a massive inspiration and source of ideas.
Because so many of the largescale lighting projects we work on are site specific we are constantly coming up with bespoke solutions and designs which respond specifically to the brief we’re given.
What do your clients love most about your products?
When they purchase a Monmouth product, they know they’re getting a top quality, well -made, well-designed piece from New Zealand’s leading glassblowing studio that will stand the test of time and be able to be handed down to the next generation.
