Matteo Seguso

Glass engraver

©Matteo Seguso

©Matteo Sigolo

©Matteo Seguso

An ancient glass art

Matteo taught his art in the US and in Australia
He started as a game, but soon he felt in love with this art
He is already passing on his skills to his children

Always in search of new stimuli and challenges, Matteo Seguso is one of the youngest performers of the traditional handmade glass engraving technique and cold working. His engraved pieces sit in many private collections around the world. In his workshop, inherited from his father Bruno and the partner Paolo, he creates artistic engravings on vases, glasses, mirrors or any glass object; giving rise to a wide range of drawings, sketches and embroidery. Matteo collaborates with several furnaces in Murano, as well as internationally renowned designers and artists. But his spirit remains tied to Venice and Murano where, one day, maybe his children could follow in their father’s footsteps. "They play with the wheel, like I did as a child in the workshop".

Interview

©Matteo Seguso

©Matteo Seguso

What is your training background?: In my childhood I always attended my father's workshop playing with the glass. Approaching to his retirement he asked me "do you want to try to be a glass engraver?". That’s how I began. I learned from my father, my uncle and Paolo. Until then it was fun; then it became a profession. It takes a long time to really learn.
What are your sources of inspiration?: I love new challenges. I’m not inspired by anything in particular. I don’t even know how to draw. I’m inspired in the moment. I dig into the glass and the shape comes out alone. I remove the outline to make it stand out better.
What does working glass mean to you?: Glass is in my blood. I’m not afraid of its fragility as glass is much stronger than you think. It’s all about dexterity and habit. Occasionally, it breaks in your hands while you clean it: it’s part of the game.
Is your craft linked to your region?: Murano has been linked to glass processing for centuries. So yes, my art is certainly linked to my home region. But every time I record something, I reinterpret it. There's always a novelty, which originates from a work or an ancient motif.

Matteo Seguso is a master artisan: he began his career in 1999 and he started teaching in 2013