The Glass Loaf
Loren Stump is a self taught glass artist who has managed to create unique glass “loaves” that—when sliced—reveal stunning portraits.
Murrine Glass Working
The technique involves wrapping different colored glass around a molten core, and then stretching it into a rod.
How’s it made?
Using thousands of colored glass canes, he “paints” layer by layer, expertly fusing the glass together.
Loren can’t check his work as he is creating murrine; the portrait can only be viewed once it’s completed and sliced. Most murine consist of just patterns and shapes, few artists are able to make full portraits.
Artist Loren Stump
The Madonna
His rendition of Da Vinci’s Madonna of the Rocks is his most elaborate murrini. It’s fully shaded and detailed, with his signature on the Madonna’s brooch.
“It could be stretched to the size of a hair and still be seen. But for the purpose of collectibility, I leave them fairly large.” -Loren Stump
Faces of the Madonna
The Glass Master
Originally a stained glass painter, Stump only began working with molten glass in 1993. He is entirely self-taught and has earned renown as both a sculptor and teacher.
He’s mastered murrine, sculpture, paperweight encasement, and lampwork. He has displays in the Corning Museum of Glass, the Ertz Israel Museum, and the Kyokei Museum of Glass.
“He attained such a high level of skill so quickly, it seemed he must have studied glass in a past life.” –Robert Micklesen
You can check out more of Stump’s work on his website.
How in the hell????
That’s a skill, so cool
As I am a glass blower myselfe since more than 30 years .
I want to mention that Loren Stumps works is absolutely amazing and that it takes many,many years to develop and master these techniques.
He´s a true master,one of the best worldwide.
Glassmax