COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS:
Rene Burri
Wila, Switzerland
From their glass studio an hour drive from Zurich, the family team of Burri Glass (Rene, Ursula, and daughter Katja) work together to create their whimsical line of glass chickens, Christmas witches, and other creations. Rene created his first famous line of glass chickens, “Chickens with Hats”, in 1992. After collecting the eggs one morning, he set out to capture the humorous nature of his chickens in his glass medium and after much experimentation, he finally settled upon a style and form that made him famous around the world.
"It takes considerable time to develop a new design... a new look. Our goal with our glasswork is to include humor and movement in every piece. Using a propane torch, we heat, pull, and shape clear hollow tubes of laboratory glass. During the process, we use oxides, splinter glass, and even a sandblaster to add color. Each piece is truly unique... or... as we like to say... each piece has its own personality!"