Stephen Mounsey

Mr

We make a range of jewellery (pendants, earrings, cufflinks) and decorative/functional items (bowls, wall plaques, coasters) in kiln formed glass. We have always loved glass as an artistic medium and functional material. Inspired by the inherent qualities of glass - its durability, its incorruptibility, the ways in which it reflects and refracts light, its tactility - and by the vividness and luminosity that it contributes to colours and coatings, we aim to create visually striking pieces of jewellery and decorative items. We use a variety of coloured, patterned, dichroic, and iridised glasses to achieve results which are vivid but not gaudy, to make items which catch the eye and make people want to keep coming back for another look. We are fascinated by the chemical and physical processes that occur at high temperatures and the ways in which these produce aesthetically compelling (though frequently unpredictable) results. Thus, we use reactive glasses and inclusions of metal foil and wire (notably silver, copper, aluminium and brass, often in combination) in our designs. Some of our designs are purely geometric, others more figurative, inspired by many years experience of landscape photography. We are constantly exploring new ideas and techniques, ways to exploit the qualities of kiln formed glass and ways to circumvent some of its infelicities. For every success there is a failure but thats the nature of experimentation and the constant process of learning ensures that we keep a fresh perspective on what we do.