Born in 1965 Jonathan Harris (see image 13) is one of the sons of the famous glassmaker Michael Harris who founded Mdina glass in 1968 and then Isle of Wight Glass in 1972. Jonathan worked with his Father in the Isle of Wight studio and is said, with his Father’s help, to have blown a glass fish, aged eight. After studying glass at Stourbridge college and a long spell at Isle of Wight Glass, where he became managing director 1992, Jonathan and his wife Alison set up their own studio in the Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire in 2000 being given permission to establish their own premises within the Coalport China Museum complex.

The aim of the studio was to assemble a highly talented team of glassmakers to develop complex and intricate glass making techniques drawing inspiration from such designers as Galle and Tiffany but also, like his Father, from the natural world. A wide variety of influences can be seen including Gothic, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. It is perhaps the second of these which is most closely seen here and the technique is one resembling cameo glass where the surface of the glass is skilfully carved by hand through layers of enamel colours, 24ct gold & sterling silver leaf to reveal an intricate design in outstanding detail. All the art glass pieces are unique and all hand signed by Jonathan Harris himself making this vase an impressive example of his studio’s output.