Kikuko Endo became fascinated by design from an early age. Her early influences were originally from Scandinavia, where she developed an interest in North European pop and minimalist design. Her natural curiosity led her from Europe to other places in the world, including the Middle East. She studied the Arabic language and Middle Eastern culture in Japan and spent some time in the Yemen, Syria and Jordan. She decided to study the art of glass-making at the Tokyo International School of Glass, and it was here that she had the opportunity to see the technique and work of the great Venetian master of glass, Cesare Tofollo. She travelled to Italy to fine tune her craft at the Tofollo School in Murano, Venice. Kikuko then returned to her native Fukuoka, where she studied the art of handmade jewellery. She set up her own studio ‘Vetro di Kikko’ in 2011 and continues to produce unique and expressive glassware and jewellery which reflect her global influences, but also her Japanese roots.

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A little bit about our glass. All of our work is handmade by us. We create hand blown, lampwork, borosilicate/pyrex glass. Each piece is individually hand blown using a torch. The torch burns in excess of 2500 degrees Fahrenheit, with a gas mixture of propane and oxygen. When the glass is molten We shape it with breath, gravity, and other rods of clear glass. We actually draw with colored glass rods layering and melting them into the clear glass until We get the design and color we are trying to create.

All glass color is made from metals and minerals from the earth. There are no paints, dyes, or glazes. Every color reacts differently to the slightest variance in temperature, so working with color is a delicate process. Upon completion the piece is placed into a kiln to anneal at 1050 degrees overnight, furthering the strength and durability of the glass. The glass we use Borosilicate glass is the same glass formula as Pyrex glass, so it is a very strong material and made to last.

We work hard to make beautiful, interesting, and unique pieces of art. Something you will love and can become a family heirloom!