Peter Raos Art Glass 100 % New Zealand made: November 2007

New Zealand born master glass artist Peter Raos is world renowned for his art glass paperweights, perfume bottles and vases. Peter has lived and worked as a glass artist in Devonport for the past 26 years. Shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Auckland Elam School of Fine Arts and Design in 1979, he started his own ‘Hot Glass Company’ in Devonport. He moved his boutique hot glass studio home in 1990 and the following year he graduated a Master of Fine Arts with Honours, from Elam. Since then, he has worked independently, developing a unique style to express his ideas “of archetypal objects that reflect Art and Nature”. Current projects include works on canvas and the establishment of the Peter Raos Glass Gallery as the exclusive showcase for his art.

Peter’s work reflects the natural elements shaping his immediate environment: the seascape surrounding Devonport and the garden enveloping his studio. He melts his own glass from the highest quality materials and hand forms the work on a steel blowpipe. Decorative elements are all made from special coloured glass and are pre-formed before inclusion into each piece. He uses a variety of techniques including the traditional millefiore technique to express the depth and glow of a garden in full flower. Every piece is individually made, signed and dated by the artist.

As a master glass artist, Peter’s skill has earned him worldwide recognition: he has successfully completed two limited edition series of paperweights for Louis Vuitton and his development of a new genre of glass artistry has brought him both professional fulfillment and a worldwide following by significant collectors.

"I approach glass as a painter would approach a painting" he says. "First I interpret my ideas as an image on paper, then I try to translate that image and transform it into glass."

Raos paperweights have been presented to many important dignitaries, including President Bill Clinton, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

"My objects reflect archetypal ideas about art and nature, communicated through colour, composition, harmony, flow and symmetry," he says. "I have a deep respect for other artists' vision, as well as the natural world around me."

Raos has been fortunate to attend and organise workshops with some of the most respected glass artists in the world, including Richard Marquis, William Morris, Lino Tagliapietra, Dante Marioni and Makoto Ito. He finds a special inspiration in the work of nineteenth century glass makers Emile Galle, Daum, Henri Cross and Argy-Rousseau, and views his pieces as an extension of that tradition.

Raos chooses to melt glass from raw materials using the purest silica imported from Tasmania. He then adds other high quality ingredients from around the world to batch his own crystal glass formula .

Peter Raos' unique and beautiful designs radiate extraordinary creativity and imagination. In each design one sees the passion and enthusiasm of a man who has devoted his working life to glass.