GLASVASE JOHN DITCHFIELD 1980.

John Ditchfield Glasvase, signiert & datiert 1980, Höhe: 18 cm.

Born in Blackpool, England, in 1952, John Ditchfield became interested in glass making when he took a holiday job in 1968, working at the Venetian Glass Company with an Italian master glass blower. He subsequently gave up his catering course to pursue the craft of glassmaking. Working together with the Italian master Franco Toffolo for seven years, he learnt basic and complicated techniques of Venetian glass making.

In the search to improve and refine his glassmaking techniques John discovered the glass of the Art Nouveau period particularly the work of Tiffany and Loetz. This led him to the eminent Tiffany Collection at the Haworth Museum, Accrington. He was fascinated by the intricacies of Tiffany’s style and the complex chemical processes which were used to achieve the fine effects. This fascination has led him down many paths.

In 1979 to gain knowledge and develope his skills as a glassmaker John travelled to Europe where he had the opportunity to work with other well known glass designers and artists. In Holland he met and worked with A D Copier and William Hessen both involved with Leerdam Glass . In Germany he worked with glass artists Lubomir Hora, Udo Edelmann, Rosemarie Lieike, Pavel Molnar and in London Sam Herman. In 1981 John returned home to Blackpool and decided together with his then partner Donald Sidebottom to open a new glass studio. This studio was called Glasform and in 1982 the first furnace was lit.

Over the last 43 years John has had the great opportunity to work with artists and craftsmen in other fields exchanging and developing ideas. He has worked with other artists on such architectural projects as Princes Square, Glasgow and the Bull Ring Birmingham amongst others. He continues to experiment with colours and techniques at his Glasform studio in Singleton, Lancashire where people are welcome to see him and his team working at the furnace forming and creating beautiful pieces of art glass.