Tobias Sode & Lene Dahl Jacobsen

Glød Glass Studio

Glassblower

The glow of tradition from Murano to Bornholm

Lene and Tobias create pieces which combine Nordic simplicity with Venetian Renaissance glassmaking
The couple met while studying together at Glasskolan in Kosta, Sweden
The Danish island, Bornholm, was named a World Craft Region in 2017

Tobias Sode and Lene Dahl Jacobsen founded their studio Glød Glass in 2021. Their practice fuses Nordic minimalism with Venetian glassblowing, that originated on the Venetian island of Murano as early as 982. "Traditional Venetian glassblowing is the most skilled and most difficult way to blow glass,” says Tobias. Once a guarded secret, the craft was not spread until the master Lino Tagliapietra began sharing the knowledge abroad. Tobias first visited Venice in 1988 with his father, sparking a lifelong bond. Lene and Tobias return to Murano every two years, to draw on the legacy of local masters who continue to innovate their practice. "We want to create something that has never been seen before. We want to contribute to making Bornholm, which is known for its art, an interesting island to explore art in,” says Lene.

Interview

In what way is your craft linked to the territory?: Bornholm was historically a site for firing and brickmaking, making the literal foundations of Denmark, such as bridges and buildings. Glass was also imprted from Sweden, enriched with minerals like nickel and cobalt which are used in the glassmaking process.
How has the culture of glass making evolved in modern times?: Eighty years ago it would have been a fantasy to have a studio of this size. Glass was made only in factories on an industrial scale because of the energy consumption. The Studio Glass Movement made it possible for studios like ours to come into being.
Is there something particularly fascinating you can share about glass?: Some of the glass pieces made some 200 years ago, including some pieces displayed in Rosenborg Castle that were gifted by the city of Venice to King Frederik IV, cannot be made again. It would take years and years to undestand how they were made, and we simply do not know how they were able to create them.
Is there anything you are both particularly proud of?: We are proud that we dared to follow through with our idea, even though we knew it would be tough. We persevered and that makes it all worth it. We are also very proud that we have four wonderful children who have been a part of the journey together with us.

Tobias Sode & Lene Dahl Jacobsen are master artisans: they began their career in 2000 and they started teaching in 2015