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Alonso, Michael and Orfeo

Alonso, Michael and Orfeo are artists, all three internationally renowned for their creativity and execution in glass. They design products that are both beautiful and functional. Michael is Swiss, Orfeo is Italian-American and Alonso is Mexican. With their creativity and diverse cultural backgrounds, the talented trio has created a new concept in blown glass design in an amazing range of color. Their glassware products are characterized by a pure and crystalline sparkle. The team has succeeded in blending techniques from different parts of the world together with their own creative intuition.

"Crystal is a familiar material. I am proud to represent a third generation of Mexican glassmakers that began with my grandfather," Alonso says. "Our procedure is traditionally Mexican but we have incorporated Czechoslovakian, Swiss, French and Italian techniques too. Michael and Orfeo are the artists. I design too, and my style is somewhat different to theirs. My pieces tend to be functional more than anything."

"Only the Mexican artisan could reflect the country's sunshine," Michael affirms. "For me, Mexico is a place of a thousand colors. Failure is part of the creative process, which is always exciting. Art and science give shape to vases, plates, fruit bowls and glasses."

Orfeo adds, "I have two personalities. I am organic and minimalist. Every molecule of life inspires me. The sensation of working in glass is – literally – a heated one. I make colors boil, and also add a bit of current fashion trends. In our workshop, with Mexican artisans, we work at 1,200 degrees C. Without heat there is neither liquid nor crystal. Without ideas, there is nothing.

"We begin by mixing silicate sand with potassium, calcium, sodium and other chemical components that give clarity and shine to our glass. We blend and melt them at a temperature of 2,200°F. Then we take up tools that have been used by glass artisans for more than 2,000 years. Aided by iron molds, we blow each piece individually. The molds are cooled by continuous currents of water that flow over them. As we blow the glass into shape, we add colors according to the desired design. The fiery piece is cooled for a day. We remove the portion of glass that was attached to the blowing tube and no evidence of it remains. Then we polish the piece to perfection.

"We offer handcrafted glassware of the highest quality, so rather than looking like recycled glass the products are as clear as crystal. Our products are utilitarian but with a highly refined sense of aesthetic."