(5) Art Glass Star Pattern Pieces. Includes two cobalt blue bowls signed Lundberg Studios and dated 1998 and 2003, an egg-shaped black piece marked indistinctly on the underside, a twisting cobalt blue glass vase with a sticker on the underside from Mario Real in Santa Barbara, California, and a more traditional shaped vase with a flared lip that is signed L.S. and dated '95 on the underside.
Largest Size: 5 x 10 7/8 in.
In 1972 James Glenn Lundberg (1949-1992) opened a small glassworks studio in Davenport, California, transitioning from ceramics to glassmaking after being inspired by Dr. Herbert Sanders’ lectures on ancient luster techniques. It quickly gained a reputation as one of the finest hand-blown facilities in California after they became the first to successfully reproduce the colors and patterns of the highly acclaimed Tiffany Studios. Mark Cantor helped Lundberg build four melting furnaces, five glory holes, and two torchworking areas, as well as a complete grinding setup and lamp shop that was regularly producing six days a week by the end of their first year, and in the late 1970s Steven Lundberg came to train under his brother. Brothers David and Daniel Salazar’s along with Chris Buzzini joined in 1974, increasing their ability to decorate and create more unique and delicate pontil work, and in 1976 the team was rounded out by James and George Shaw, who worked primarily as cutters and polishers. In the 1980s a massive collection of their work had been acquired by the Smithsonian Institution, as well as Gumps and the Nature Company, and President Ronald Reagan ordered 250 of their World Weight Earth Globe pieces in 1989, which were given to visiting dignitaries around the world. James Lundberg’s tragic death in a bicycling accident in 1992 led Steven to take over the company along with James’ widow Rebecca, producing new designs and motifs to this day.
Based in the coastal arts community of Santa Barbara, California, glass artist Mario Real has carved out a distinct niche within the region's vibrant contemporary craft scene. Drawing inspiration from the dramatic intersection of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, his work frequently reflects the fluid energy and organic colors of the Central Coast landscape. Real specializes in manipulating molten glass at the furnace, utilizing traditional hand-blowing techniques to shape unique sculptural vessels, decorative ornaments, and custom installations. Throughout his creative practice, he focuses deeply on the complex interplay of light, transparency, and texture, often embedding intricate air bubbles or multi-layered color ribbons within his pieces. As an active participant in Santa Barbara’s local maker community, he regularly showcases his one-of-a-kind creations through regional galleries, artisan markets, and private studio showcases. Today, Real continues to operate his independent practice, creating highly collectible glass art that captures the luminous, sun-drenched aesthetic of Southern California.
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