Art Leaders Gallery is proud to represent the work of Stephen Schlanser, who creates original designs in engraved, carved and etched crystal bowls, vases and sculpture. Schlanser uses the ancient technique of kiln-forming, also called fusing, to create his functional and decorative objects. Fusing of glass was used by the Egyptians and Persians nearly 4,000 years ago. With the advent of glassblowing 2,000 years ago, glass fusing became a lost artform only to be rediscovered and revived in the latter half of the 20th century.

He begins each piece by hand cutting elements from high quality plate glass, then placing them over handmade molds. About 14 hours is required for the elements to melt into the proper shape, fuse together and cool. After cooling, Schlanser spends another three to four hours to smooth and polish edges and, for some pieces, etching of linear, abstract or figurative designs. Because of the process and his own high standards of quality, he rejects and destroys about 30 percent of the pieces he makes. Those considered first quality are signed and dated. Some pieces are created with etched or carved designs. Using a sand etching process developed in the 1870s, Schlanser masks the entire surface, draws his design by hand, then etches or carves sections one at a time.

His bowls and vases , in various sizes, feature carved edges that provide contrast with the shiny surfaces of the bowl. Schlanser began working in glass in 1983 and maintains his own studio in Southern California. His work has been shown at major galleries and juried exhibitions throughout the United States.