Kristel Britcher

Masterclass at Czech Glass School

Kamenicky Senov, Czech Republic

I spent the month of April 2013 at the Czech Glass School in the small town of Kamenicky Senov in the north of the Czech Republic.  The town of Kamenicky Senov has a long history of glass production and is known for the quality of engraved glass produced in that area and I has the opportunity to undertake a masterclass of traditional glass cutting and engraving.

I worked with master engraver Kment Rudolf and learnt some basic traditional cuts that are used in most designs, and worked with him to learn how to cut particular design shapes and the basics of cameo engraving. In the month I completed two cameo engraved pieces and worked with Kment Rudolf from mapping out the design, rough cutting, and then to adding finer details using various profiled wheels.   

In the cutting workshop I worked under master cutter Josef Kris and was able learn the traditional processes of brilliant cutting. I learnt how to polish with pumice, and to dress and cut with stone wheels, all relatively new processes for me to work with. I completed several pieces, and was taken through each of the steps with Josef Kris fro the first rough cuts to the final polish. 

It was a really rewarding experience to be able to work in a school and in a town with such expertise in this particular craft. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the region and the craft and was incredibly inspiring to see the quality of craftsmanship that has been taught in the region for over a century. The design potential using these traditional processes is really exciting and I am working on new designs that utilise these new skills.

This project was funded by the Carclew Youth Arts Ruth Tuck Scholarship, for which I am incredibly thankful.