Ester Luesma & Xavier Vega

Glass fuser

©Luesma&Vega

Flair and function

Ester and Xavier make exquisite glass dinnerware
Renowned chef Ferran Adrià is their mentor
Their pieces combine function and creativity

Working together since 1991, Ester Luesma and Xavier Vega are the duo behind Luesma & Vega. Although their background comprises both ceramics and glass, since 2010 they have been focusing on the latter, fascinated by its versatility and endless possibilities for bringing shapes to life, using different techniques from fusing to slumping. Their workshop close to Barcelona is where they design and make dinnerware for haute cuisine, now in high demand among renowned chefs. Ester and Xavier seek perfection in their glass dinnerware, which resembles porcelain due to its finish. Their passion for design leads them to always look for ways to balance beauty with function. It's also important to them to establish a collaboration and emotional connection with the client.

Interview

©Luesma&Vega

©Luesma&Vega

Why did you move into glass dinnerware?: Ester: It is Ferran Adrià who was the catalyst. When we met in 2004, he was intrigued by the way we used glass and he was in need of dinnerware that could be adapted for the unique cuisine he was developing at El Bulli. We discussed it and that’s how the collaboration started.
What makes your pieces so special for chefs?: Ester: They are light, delicate, almost resembling china. When experimenting, a chef envisions how the food will be displayed as part of the experience. The dinnerware must be dishwasher safe, occupy little space, bear different temperatures, be easy to hold. This is where our creative vision meets function.
What's your design process like?: Xavier: Function is a must. When we conceive a piece we are driven by the process of making it, we are interested by the effects of this process, and we look for them in order to make pieces that are unique. They may look similar, but each of them is different, because of the craftsmanship involved.
What are your inspirations?: Xavier: We like the landscape as seen from an aeroplane. Also the shapes and structures that can be seen through the lens of a microscope. The work of modern art masters like Miró, Dali, Rothko and Picasso is also an endless source of inspiration, together with Japanese Bizen ceramics.

Ester Luesma & Xavier Vega are master artisans: they began their career in 1991 and they started teaching in 2003