If you’ve walked through the gardens of Chester Cathedral recently you may have noticed an enchanting array of colourful glass creatures.
From whimsical animals such as glass owls, frogs, bumble bees, swans and ants, to intricate sculptures, each of the beautiful pieces has been hand-blown and handcrafted by the famous Glasstudio Borowski. Run by three brothers, their masterpieces can be seen in many renown galleries, collections and museums around the world.
Their work is currently on display in the gardens of Chester Cathedral as part of an exhibition called ‘Enchanted Garden of Light’, thanks to husband-and-wife team Sašo and Alex Taneski.
The couple, who met while skiing in Poland, moved to Chester to set up their business together. They have run Pyramid Designer Glassware in Chester for 27 years and are the UK’s biggest independent glassware retailers.
Located on St Werburgh Street, opposite the Cathedral, they travel the world sourcing art glass from some of the world’s finest artists and studios, including Borowski Glasstudio, Kosta Boda, Orrefors and Maleras.
Sašo said: “We are thrilled to be presenting this extraordinary exhibition in collaboration with Borowski Glass Studio. It’s a unique opportunity for people to witness the synergy between art, nature, and history, and it’s an enchanting experience to see the beautiful pieces in the stunning setting of the Cathedral.”
As a leading UK supplier of Kosta Boda (the official glassmaker of the Eurovision winning trophy) during the Eurovision in Liverpool, Pyramid Chester was chosen as the top outlet to provide the mini-Eurovision trophy that can still be seen and purchased in their shop.
Alex said: “Sašo and I have been running our business together for 27 years and we both have the same passion for what we do, which is what makes it a success. We’re very privileged to see such beautiful things made by world famous artists that most people would never be able to get so close to.
“It would be impossible for me to choose a favourite piece or designer as the more you look the more you like. When the light catches some designs, the beauty of it takes your breath away. Glass is so much more than something to drink out of or display flowers in. And then when you hear the story of the artist and how they made a piece, the love and care they put into it, it sparkles even more and gives you a deeper appreciation of what you see.
“When we opened the doors for the first time in 1997, people were fascinated with the pieces we were selling because they’d never seen anything like them before. The glass and crystal market at the time was predominantly covered by studios such as Edinburgh Crystal and Waterford Crystal, which have their own value and beauty, but we wanted to do something new, something fresh and very much something different.
“Over the years we’ve taken on more exclusive brands and won the respect of a number of artists who trust us to display and sell their precious work.
“We have customers locally and from all over the world – including some celebrities and famous people – and they’re all looking for a little piece of luxury, sophisticated pieces of glass art, to collect or give as a special gift.
“We’ve had people coming from across the UK, Europe and worldwide so they can see, touch and connect with a piece they like and find out more about it and the artist who created it. They are so happy when they leave and can’t wait to get home to display their purchase in a place that they will cherish it.
“We’ve got pieces for every pocket, from £30 to several £1,000s and they’re all special. Just like a fingerprint, there are no two pieces of glass that are the same. In addition, every season we look for some new exciting designs and trends.
“We love being in Chester and are blessed with fabulous staff, some of whom have been with us for many years.”
