Portland-based glass artist Joseph Enszo has an interesting aesthetic. It’s a combination of Italian murrine and zanfirico cane methods, Asian-inspired simplicity of shapes, and references to nature. His methods – a combination of traditional and invented techniques – mean that his pieces often go through 6-7 firings in addition to manipulation with a furnace and torch. Time well spent, I’d say!
“Glass is probably the most technical material that I have worked with. A single bowl requires up to five different computer-controlled firings with multiple ramp segments in each firing. Each ramp segment includes a speed of change, a target temperature, and a hold time at that temperature. If a single segment changes by five degrees or five minutes, it often makes a measurable difference in the result.”
– Joseph Enszo: Sustainability & Science in Art
I was never much of a fan of murrine glass. All that millefiorie stuff always seemed to me cartoonish and busy, but Enszo’s glass compositions take out all that fussiness . What we’re left with is joyous color and spare shapes to which I am truly drawn.
You can see all of Joseph Enszo’s lovely works on his website and on Artful Home.
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My OBT 
June 22, 2023 at 6:38 am
Joyous color indeed! I loved your first image where the poster was excited to find a Murrine on display/for sale.
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June 22, 2023 at 6:40 am
The bowls are reasonably priced considering all the work that goes into them!
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June 22, 2023 at 11:51 am
Surprising but true!
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June 22, 2023 at 11:51 am
That really struck me, too!
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