Ukrainian Hand-Blown Glass · Three-Neck Vase

Hand-blown in Lviv from recycled glass using the centuries-old guta technique, this three-neck vase is a distinctive sculptural piece, with fine bubble inclusions throughout that catch and diffuse light. The organic body shifts from warm amber at the base to a soft, smoky olive green at the shoulder. Three cylindrical openings crown the piece - functional for fresh or dried stems, quietly extraordinary as a standalone object.

The Craft. Artisans in Lviv make modern objects using a centuries-old technique called guta (or huta)- a demanding production method, which leaves no room for error. A molten ball is blown out through a tube and placed on an iron rod (pontil), readied for moulding. Masters pull, bend and cut the viscous glass using wooden blocks and shears, forming enchanting pieces that come to life after a day of slow cooling in the annealing oven. The designs are a reflection of the skill and artistry of the glassblower, who must work with precision and control to achieve the desired form and shape. 

The Heritage. Glass started its journey in Egypt, reaching the northern coast of the Black Sea a few centuries later. A particular form of glass blowing called guta started developing a millennium ago in the Kyivan Rus, often in small workshops of individual glassblower families, but also in bigger ones owned by Cossacks and monasteries. With the glass needs shifting from the church and princely courts to the common people, the glass production moved into larger workshops, such as the one established by Princess Isabella Lubomirska in the deep forests around Lviv- the famous ‘forest glass’ workshops that sprang throughout Northern Europe in the Middle Ages.

The Maker. Masha Yakush built the Yakush Studio around a simple conviction: that broken glass deserves a second life. Masha's passion for restaurant culture and sustainability drew her to working with skilled artisans in Lviv. The glass atelier collects broken glass from factories around the country and remelt it to form new, exquisite objects. Yakush artisans constantly experiment with shapes, colours and forms, drawing inspiration from antique tableware and ancient glass creations.