He
has a diverse and interesting background. His occupations have ranged
from racing motorcycles to modeling. He was raised in a community
rich in heritage and as a result has a great appreciation for architecture
and the arts.
He
found his interest in glass while working as an apprentice for the
renowned German glass artisan Paul von Domarus and later opened
his own successful stained glass studio. He has since taken the
glass medium into unexplored territories. In 1990 he presented his
first collection of kiln-fired glass; the process by which plate
glass is carefully shaped by heating it to near melting temperature,
then gravitating from its solid state to form the shapes as seen
in the Schlanser line.
Each
piece is individually handcrafted by transforming sheet glass into a collection
of decorative vases, bowls and platters. They are carefully shaped inside
a closed kiln by heating it to melting temperature. Once the glass has approached
its nearly liquid state, it gravitates to the shapes as seen in the Schlanser
line. After a gradual decrease in temperature to a complete cool-down, each
piece is handcut and high polished on diamond wheels. Some of the vessels
are composed with various etched designs giving each of them an individual
flair. All designs are hand drawn, cut and high pressure sandblasted. Once
a piece has proceeded through these work stages flawlessly, various polished
or hand chipped bases are permanently attached. Upon completion, each piece
is signed and dated.