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SLAVIC TREASURES
Company:
is founded on one main underlying principle... to provide to our collectors the highest quality, most innovative blown-glass products at reasonable prices while maintaining an effective and "user-friendly" customer service program. We agree with many dealers and collectors alike that the prices and "egos" of some companies within the collectible glass industry have been allowed to go unchecked and out-of-control. By providing technologically-advanced, unique designs, including a new "twist" on traditional glass themes, our goal at Slavic Treasures is to simply be the best company within the market in regard to design, price, and customer service."
Following is the:
Slavic Treasures was formed in early 1995 in Kraków, Poland and has been working in the blown-glass sector of the giftware industry ever since. However, the current 1998 Slavic Treasures Collection is the first line of designs to specifically carry our name within the retail market. From our start through 1997, we worked with other glass factories to create several lines for other US companies. Through time, however, it became evident that both the factories and the wholesalers did not share our same vision and caring for the products and the possibilities for creating new, exciting styles and "pushing the envelope" with blown-glass technology. So... we decided that the old adage was appropriate: "If you want something done right, then do it yourself."
For this reason, the Slavic Treasures Collection and our "Glasscots" University Mascots lines were "born" for debut in 1998. We are committed to building these lines in terms of their content and collectibility, and will never compromise on quality.
Slavic Treasures is made up of many different talented artisans and business-people. However, the company has three main executive partners responsible for the operation and development of the company and its product lines.
- is the co-President and principle designer for the company. He has university degrees in both Design and Architecture and, in addition, has participated in several group and individual exhibitions of his paintings/sculptures. Glenn moved to Poland in January 1993 to become a co-founding Director of a joint venture Polish-American architectural firm that creates projects throughout Poland and other Central European countries.
- is the Vice-president of the company and has also been Glenn's wife since April 1994 The couple has a wonderful, one-year-old daughter, Allyson, who was born in Kraków in July 1997. Basia constantly uses her abilities as a translator to coordinate and oversee the important language and cultural interaction among the various "players" to insure that everyone works together with one vision for the products' design, coloration, and overall quality.
- is the co-President of the company and oversees our US headquarters, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dave and Glenn have been close friends ever since attending kindergarten together in their shared hometown of Burlington, North Carolina. Dave's skill and training in the world of banking, accounting, and finance give him the perfect background to direct the "business" side of the company in regard to all aspects of shipping and finance.
Many of you may not be familiar with all of the process used in creating our collectible glass designs. In response to numerous requests, we have decided to include the following information in order for you to have an increased understanding of the meticulous steps in the making of Slavic Treasures ornament.
The very first step is the creation of clay model of idea or concept for the design. Our accomplished sculptor takes each design and brings it to life as a three-dimensional form - sculpted at the exact size of the finished glass ornament. After corrections and revisions, the model is then utilized to create the metal mold is hand-cast to create the negative image of the design, and is made as two halves to allow the molten glass to be placed inside the mold.
After casting the model, the actual blowing of the glass can begin. Highly skilled craftspersons heat glass tubes to the perfect moment between solid and liquid and then place them into the metal molds. The tubes are then mouth-blown inside the mold and the molten glass assumes the shape as cast inside. This is not as simple as blowing up balloon, and sometimes requires several cycles of heating - blowing -and re-heating before all of the sculpted details have been transferred to the glass. When finished, the glass is a perfect positive image the design as contained within the metal mold. But... the glass is still as perfectly clear as a window. This changes during the next step.
The next step is the "silvering" process during which the glass will receive its reflective inner coat. This process is very important and must be done with care because if it is hurried or, afterward, if the pieces are not allowed to completely dry before moving to the next step, spots or flaking may appear within the designs... sometimes even many months after being made. To achieve the silvered interior, a chemical solution containing pure silver is placed within each glass piece. When activated with a second catalyst solution, the silver separates and chemically bonds to the inner surface of the glass. The process is speeded by dunking the glass into tubs of warm water and shaken to insure that complete coverage is achieved internally. There should be no visible "holes" in the silvered surface when holding the pieces up to a bright light if the procedure has been accomplished properly.
The next step in the production process is the actual painting and glittering of the designs. This may require several phases for completion due to the complexity of each particular piece. General colors are applied first and, after drying, the subsequent "layering" of painted and glittered details are applied. The finest and most difficult details - including the eyes and shaded finishes - are the last to be completed. This cycle of painting - drying - and additional detailing is the reason that a minimum of seven days is required to produce each and every Slavic Treasures design.
Finally, after all painting and glittering is complete, each design moves through its final quality - control inspection and is "cut and capped". Throughout the production process, the long stem is left intact in order for the workers to hold the design without handling the actual painted surface. After passing inspection, the stem is cut and replaced by our spring-tensioned aluminum cap and wire. The piece is then packaged for shipping to you in our damage-resistant individual boxes (which are made from 100% post-consumer material) and sent to our distribution facilities.
As you know, there are no machines used to manufacture our collectible glass designs... in fact, they are made in precisely the manner as used in Poland for centuries. For this reason, there will always be slight variations even among the same styles due to the individual technique used to make each piece. We hope this explanation of the process adds to your appreciation of our designs and will further inspire you to protect your investment through proper care and storage by avoiding extreme temperatures and areas subject to dampness.
is not only the absolute best in producing the finest in European glass ornaments, they are also the best in the artwork of re-creating in glass, animals most lifelike in their appearance.
And not only wild animals like the one below:
also does the finest creations in glass ornaments of our beloved pets like this:
JUDGE FOR YOURSELF!
aLL you have to do is click on the
SLAVIC TREASURE ORNAMENTS
below, and you'll be taken to the
SLAVIC TREASURE ORNAMENT PAGES!