TOP 10 GLASSBLOWERS STILL STANDING IN 2021 from freeamfva's blog

TOP 10 GLASSBLOWERS STILL STANDING IN 2021

The art of glassblowing dates back to some of the earliest civilizations but it was not until the late 1970s that the first patent was filed for a glass pipe meant to be smoked out of. Little did anyone know at the time just how large of an industry, and a culture, would form around this simple design.To get more news about big bongs, you can visit sharebongs.com official website.

In the past 10 years we have witnessed a renaissance of mind-blowing functional glass art created by incredibly talented individuals, some of whom ride that talent to the top of the game and stay there, and some who burn out quicker than a busted kiln.

It’s not ever easy to make it as an artist, but for many years this particular form of art came with a real risk of running on the wrong side of the law so those who made it through those darker days and are still blazing borosilicate on the other side deserve our respect.
THAINE RAWLINS / RAWLINS GLASS / OLYMPIC GLASSWORKS
Olympic Glassworks based out of San Diego, CA was at the top of the glass game a decade ago, putting out flawless glass bongs with innovative percolator designs that led to unrivaled diffusion and bubble stacking function.
BUCK GLASS
A small-town Oregon native, Buck’s love for nature is expressed in every piece of art he makes. For a decade or more, his signature style has defined the upper end of what a glass artist can accomplish, and of what a functional glass piece can command, price-wise.
JASON HARRIS / JEROME BAKER DESIGNS / JBD
It doesn’t get much more old school than a Jerome Baker bong or bubbler. If you want to go back further than JBD, you’re talking about Bob Snodgrass, and that is who Jason Harris honed his craft with early on in his career. The earliest JBD bongs did not yet feature glass on glass fittings for the bowl and downstem, instead using a rubber grommet to create the airtight seal at the joint.
ELBO GLASS
Perhaps the best way to remain relevant in a saturated glass market is to create a base of dedicated collectors who love your signature style. For Elbo, the style is dope dinosaur dab rigs and the collectors can’t get enough.
EPOK / A REAL NOBODY
Known by most glass fans for his colorful, functional, dreamlike renditions of raindrops falling from clouds, our earliest memory of this artist’s work was when he created a dual function Nintendo Entertainment System… out of glass! Yep, you could dab or smoke with it, or play Duck Hunt or Super Mario Bros.
KGB GLASS
Probably the best motto in the glass game – “Only one carb!” – is a brilliant play on the fact that KGB glass is known best for making dry pipes (with one carb hole) shaped and created to resemble delicious donuts! Aside from the occasional collaboration that may fetch a higher price, KGB Glass pipes and wearable pendants have remained virtually the same in price over the years and can usually be had for a few hundred bucks or less, without that regretful stomach ache later!
BANJO GLASS
So, the most money that a functional piece of heady glass art has ever gotten at auction is ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Yep, you read that right. The third highest amount ever paid for a heady glass rig was $300,000. What did they both have in common? Banjo Glass was in on the collaboration. Most people shake their heads in disbelief at prices like that but when you are as uniquely talented as Banjo, you just need a couple of people to literally buy into your vision.
PHIL SIEGEL
Another real OG of the glass game, Phil Siegel’s work has always pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible with borosilicate glass. His earlier work was usually in the $500-1000 range for super heady bubblers featuring flawless discs, horns, and color combos.
JP TORO / TORO GLASS
SLX Grinders Toro GlassSome people favor function in the glass. Some favor form. For those who demand both, Toro Glass has been the standard for over a decade and counting. You will not find any sculpted creatures or delicate design here. Instead, you get a perfectly proportioned, flawlessly functioning, hard-hitting, durable dab rig. They’ve never been cheap, but the good stuff rarely is, right? For $300-$1000 you’ll never be disappointed with your Toro Glass and if you take care of it, it could be the last rig you ever need to buy.
SOVEREIGNTY GLASS
Much like Mothership Glass, it becomes a hyped event anytime a high-end headshop or smokeshop is due to get a new drop of Sovereignty Glass pieces. They are not outrageously priced – plan on spending around a grand for one if it ever crosses your path – but these thick, massive, American-made bongs will sell out within hours of landing in a shop and good luck finding one just chilling unsold in any online glass shop. With demand like that and full control over the supply, Sovereignty Glass gives glassblowers the perfect playbook for how to build a brand that lasts.