People Who Live In Glass Houses Shouldnt Wear Glass Cufflinks

People Who Live In Glass Houses Shouldnt Wear Glass Cufflinks

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Jo Downs is one of the worlds most prominent fused glass designers. She manufactures a rainbow of mens cufflinks and a kaleidoscope of jewellery for women. Her advanced fusion techniques create abstract designs that add warmth to the coldness of glass giving life to the most inanimate material, impressing textural influences, while gleaning colour to glass. Just a glance at her colourful creations will conjure joy. Art is to be appreciated, it should delight the observer enough to want to own a piece of it; art is not a dark science for the portrayal of despair and ruin, what sense in art that conjures remorse.

Its not just jewellery that takes form in her studio; glass panel designs are commissioned by renowned architects and hang in famous buildings. And there are objects that decorate homes sideboards and tables. Coasters, a mere delight to meet the eye, all colours of the rainbow are captured in glass as delicate as ice, but as warm as the sun that filters through open windows of spring time.

Scientific intervention plays as major role in the formation of art as does the artist creative hand. Jo realises this and utilises both to great effect. To appreciate is to understand the history of fused glass production stemming from Murano glass techniques.

Murano, an island located near Venice, is still today regarded as being synonymous with the production of the finest and most elegant glass. Murano's products are the most recognizable glass around the world. Murano glass is often referred to as "cristallo" due to its unique properties.

The art of glass-making in Venice has been present in the city since its very settlement. The Venetians acquired glass-making techniques from other civilisations through their extensive trading colonies in the Eastern Mediterranean and Islamic territories. Around the year 1292, Venetian glassmakers learned every known aspect of glassmaking. Although they were not the only ones to make glass, Venetian production has always been more refined. In the same period, the whole Venetian glassmaking production was moved to the isolated island of Murano becoming one of the world's first industrial districts.

As glass trading with fine Venetian glass was one of the leading sources of trade, it comes as no surprise that glassmaking was one of Venice's most guarded secrets. The art of glassmaking was handed down from father to son, and then became a trade exclusively for those born on the island of Murano. A glassmaker that left the Venetian State was condemned to death as a traitor.

The dominance of Venetian glass lasted until the 19th century when the mutated political situation lead to the development of glassmaking in other European countries. However, the Murano School remains one of the most important in the world, and has retained its influence right up to modern times.

In the midst of a mass manufacturing revolution never seen before, artists like Jo Downs contribute their skills to and ancient art form, keeping it alive. Shes not alone, other British designers have carved out a significant niche designing and manufacturing home grown classics.

About the Author:
Purveyor of finely crafted mens fashion accessories by Vivienne Westwood, including Viviennes famous Orb Cufflinks, plus historic anecdotes and fashion critiques



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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