Stourbridge Glassblowing Studio
The Stourbridge Glassmakers The Ruskin Glass Centre
All photographs, words and design by Sarah McDowall
The Stourbridge Glassmakers The Ruskin Glass Centre Stourbridge Glassblowing Studio
Ian Bamforth Glassblower
“My name is Ian Bamforth and I’ve been at the Stourbridge glassblowing studio in the Ruskin glass centre for five years. Our first melt was in November 2010.” “We make bespoke glass, blow glass and cast glass. That’s between ourselves, there are four partners in the Stourbridge glass blowing studio.” “There’s myself Ian Bamforth, my brother Vic Bamforth, Peter Fricker and Steven Foster. We all have parts in the business, I run the studio day to day and do a bit of maintenance.”
“We rent the studio out to lots of makers from all over the country, we’ve had people from Northern Ireland, Holland and Czech republic but mainly it’s people from the length and breadth of England. They will hire the studio and make their work for commissions.”
“Our studio works by word of mouth, people always ask me why did you come to Stourbridge and I tell them well this is where it all started in this country. That’s why we call it Stourbridge glassblowing studio because we still want Stourbridge to be on the map as making glass. “When we first started renting the studio the first year we had about 20 hirers all year and then last year we had 86 and then this year we’ve had something like 156, so we must be doing something right.”
“I just love it, that’s why I do it. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it. It’s why I assist other people too because it’s as much of an enjoyment to watch other people and help them produce work as it is doing my own.”
Stourbridge is a town, located in the West Midlands and is known to be the glass quarter of England. Glassmaking in Stourbridge can be dated as far back as 1612, the glass is still classed as some of the world’s finest and has been used many times as gifts for royalty. The Ruskin Glass Centre is a distinct space that encompasses an array of glassmakers who are all very successful. They all have their own techniques and although it might not look like the materials they use are glass, they all have one thing in common they all are glassmakers The Stourbridge Glassmakers. Thank you to Ian Bamforth for his time and patience. www.ruskinglasscentre.co.uk
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