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Marco Kesseler © Michelangelo Foundation
© Alex Ramsay
Marco Kesseler © Michelangelo Foundation
Marco Kesseler © Michelangelo Foundation
Marco Kesseler © Michelangelo Foundation

Philip Baldwin & Monica Guggisberg

  • Glassblower
  • Presteigne, United Kingdom
  • Master Artisan
Philip Baldwin & Monica Guggisberg Glassblower
Marco Kesseler © Michelangelo Foundation

Pioneers of glassmaking

  • • Monica and Philip won the Glass in Venice prize in 2017
  • • They have lived and worked in Switzerland, France and the UK
  • • They are pioneers in combining Swedish and Italian cutting techniques

For Switzerland-born Monica Guggisberg and American Philip Baldwin, glass was to provide not only a new profession but a lasting partnership, too. They met in Sweden in 1979, when both chose to study at the Orrefors factory glass school. They swiftly started working together before moving to Switzerland to open their own studio in 1982. Initially making functional objects, they have collaborated with some of the biggest names in glass, including Venini and Rosenthal, but now focus mainly on artistic work. Self-confessed nomads – a theme reflected in their recent Boats series – they have lived and worked all over Europe and currently reside in Wales, UK.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Alex Ramsay
  • © Alex Ramsay
  • © Alex Ramsay
  • © Alex Ramsay
  • © Alex Ramsay
Photo: © Alex Ramsay
Multicultural Festival

Hand blown glass bottles of varying shapes and sizes are placed within a boat's welded steel frame. The Boat series is an expression of both literal and metaphorical vessels that, over time, gradually transform into artefacts, accruing layers of meaning and memory of past exploits. Celebrating diversity, showing the power and joy in grouping colourful individuals together in one space.

Height 65 cm
Length 150 cm
Width 50 cm

Photo: © Alex Ramsay
Leaving Necropolis

Necropolis is a term from Ancient Greek referring to “cities of the dead”. Often associated with treasure given to accompany the dead on their journey, here they are leaving with their memories protected in these vessels. Hand blown glass bottles of varying shapes and sizes placed within a boat's welded steel frame. A simple shape as it fits the meditative state.

Height 65 cm
Length 150 cm
Width 50 cm

Photo: © Alex Ramsay
Species Novae

These hand blown glass shapes, seeking to evoke notions of pleasure, humour, and poetry draw on an older history and tradition, while playing with light and distinctly accented lines. They celebrate a rich tradition of glassmaking by using the Venetian Incalmo technique together with battuto cutting.

Height 48 cm
Diameter 18 cm
Height 73.5 cm
Diameter 16 cm
Height 55 cm
Diameter 21 cm

Photo: © Alex Ramsay
Species Novae #Q78 _ #Q79, 2019

Two tall bicolour hand blown vessels draw on an older history and tradition, while playing with light and distinctly accented lines. They celebrate a rich tradition of glassmaking by using the Venetian Incalmo technique together with battuto cutting, a Baldwin & Guggisberg signature.

Height 82.5 cm
Diameter 15 cm
Height 66 cm
Diameter 16 cm

Photo: © Alex Ramsay
Species Novae Nero

Species Novae, Latin for new species, evolved from travellers in boats to exuberant individuals in their own right, while remaining faithful to certain boundaries of restraint. These shapes draw on an older history and tradition, while playing with light and distinctly accented lines. They seek pleasure, humour, and poetry.

Height 52 cm
Diameter 14 cm
Height 60 cm
Diameter 16 cm
Height 47 cm
Diameter 13 cm

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