22 January 1998: Top international glass artist, Josef Marcolin, has teamed up with Dartington Crystal and started work on developing a new and exciting collection of glass sculptures. Celebrated for…
22 January 1998: Top international glass artist, Josef Marcolin, has teamed up with Dartington Crystal and started work on developing a new and exciting collection of glass sculptures. Celebrated for his magnificent crystal figurines of animals, birds and sea life, Mr. Marcolin will teach his craft to the UK-based crystal manufacturer“s own glass blowers while working on a new range to be launched this year. Eric Dancer, managing director of Dartington Crystal commented: “Josef is one of the world“s most celebrated glass artists – it is a privilege to have him with us – and we are very excited about the launch of this new range of glass sculptures. Josef will also assist our young glass blowers in developing and honing their skills; the opportunity for them to work alongside someone as talented as him will be of enormous value”. Born in Rome, Italy and blowing glass since the age of 13, Marcolin learnt the art of Venetian glass making from the master glass blowers of Murano, famous for centuries for the art of glass blowing. In 1961 he moved to Sweden, where he combined the 1,000 year old art of Venetian techniques with Swedish design and quality. Together with his brother Benito, he taught young apprentices his art. The two brothers went on to set up their own glass factory and have become two of the glass industry“s leading exponents. Marcolin“s sculptures have been exhibited around the world and feature in numerous private collections. In 1991 he was made a fellow of the Corning Museum of Glass, one of the top honours for a glass blower.