Kessler Craftsman

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The Kessler Craftsman Portfolio

While a majority of my work is commissioned for a particular patron, designer or architect, speculation pieces are occasionally created for sale on this website, for shows or for sale through galleries. See Catalogue for more details. See Contact Us for a list of galleries and shows displaying the work of the Kessler Craftsman.

Stained Glass

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Arched Fleur

This 11.5 foot-wide set of three panels was done for a 1926 Tudor home in Kessler Park, Dallas, TX. Done in the Edwardian Style to mirror the Tudor architecture, this piece features English Muffle leaded glass in a variety of muted traditional jewel tones. The panels were installed behind double-pane insulated glass and are backlit for nighttime viewing. This installation also matches the attic window entitled "Attic Fleur".

(11.5x2.6 ft)

Attic Fleur

This 2.5 X 3 foot window features English Muffle leaded glass utilizing a stylized Edwardian tulip design with a blue Muffle-glass border. Since this is a non-occupied attic, white Plexiglass was put behind the window and a small light installed so as to backlight the piece at night. The colors match the "Arched Fleur" installation above and mirror the architecture of the 1926 Tudor home in addition to the owner's love for flowers.

(2.5x3.0 ft)

Victorian Calla

This leaded Victorian piece features a stylized Calla Lilly in opaque glass and Victorian-style leaves, vines and borders. An exquisite mixture of opaque, cathedral and clear seedy leaded glass, this piece measures 14"x27" and was mounted in a White Oak frame for placement behind a transom window opening above the owner's front door. This is one of my favorite Victorian works to date.

(14x27 in)

Three Tulips

This 17"x17" piece features the Victorian three-tulip design in bright Spring colors emphasized by streaky opaque glass, clear seedy restoration glass and delicate lead lines. Also incorporated are three iridescent glass "jewels" that echo the pink and green spring colors. Four 2"x2" crystal bevels are inserted into each corner of this stunning piece.

(17x17 in)

Magnolia Transom Window

This window was commissioned by a woman for her mother in law.

She specified the size/dimensions and the use of magnolia flowers and black and white glass.

She approved the final design which uses the specificed black water glass, two shades of white, two shades of green, brown, and clear glue chip glass. 2" square bevels were also included in the project.

This is an excellent example of the degree of collaboration in the commissioning process.

I was pleased, she was very pleased and her mother in law was ecstatic!

Prarie Wheat

This beautiful geometric was inspired by the work of Prairie-style architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Mr. Wright believed that the windows in a home or office should allow the outdoors into the home. As a result, his designs feature the use of predominantly clear glass combined with bright basic colors and nature-inspired geometric shapes. This piece, entitled "Prairie Wheat" features a wheat stalk centerpiece in gold cathedral glass surrounded by brilliant colors and shapes.

(17x29 in)

Musclebound

One of my first commissions was a set of three Tudor-style kitchen cabinet doors using lead and clear glass. Ironically this was my first experience using totally clear double-strength glass...and I loved it. Having admired the simple line drawings that emphasize the human form, the two concepts were melded into one of my favorite non-architectural pieces. One of my customers says I should have left his underwear off!

(15.25x22.75 in)

Trout

This 19"x29" piece was done for a New Jersey couple who are avid fisherpersons. The trout is a combination of iridescent and embossed clear glass with fine lead lines. The remainder of the piece features cool-toned "Waterglass" which perfectly fits the subject matter and artistic vision!

(19"x29")

Tudor Cabinet Doors

This set of three leaded clear glass panels was commissioned by contractor Perry Roberts for a Tudor kitchen.

The homeowner is pleased, Perry's pleased, I'm pleased.

Windomere Lamp w/Black Cherry Base

Named after one of the streets in the Kessler Historic district, this Prairie-inspired art-glass shade is made with a solid brass lamp cap, structural reinforcment, hand-cut opaque art glass and soldered Tiffany-Style joinery.

The base, also crafted by the artist, is made from solid American Black Cherry and features full-length dovetail joinery and decorative Mission-style corbels. Finished in stain-oil-poly combination. This is what lights the artist's space.

Cathedral Votives

Kessler Craftsman manufactures these stained glass candleholders in his shop using the same craftsmanship seen in his mission furniture and stained glass commissions. There are two "levels" of these small, affordable pieces. The basic, illustrated here, have beautifulcopper-foiled opaque or cathedral glass atop a hardwood base. The more complex level, starts with the "basic" candleholder, but features soldered shapes...see the "Harlequin"..beautiful rough-rolled cathedral glass with multi-colored diamonds and the "English Tudor" featuring Wissmach English Muffle glass with muted diamonds. Images and prices for the latter will be added soon!

(4 X 4 1.00)

Dutch Door

This is one of two recently-completed commissions; 9 panels for a dutch door in English Muffle victorian glass. The owner did the initial design and picked out the colors. We picked one of the coldest days of the year to remove the top half of the door and install these windows! The end result is pleasing to all and retains the authenticity of this old Tudor home. This commission inspired an exciting new candleholder design that will appear on the website..the "Tudor" candleholder. Naturally, the owner of these doors got the first one!

Sur Le Mer 2

This is the second Sur Le Mer in this series of 14 Japanese lamps. This particular lamp features smaller ring mottles, ebonized hardwood top/bottom and a UL-listed light fixture w/line switch. A swirl of dark blue, light blue iridescent and white...

Kansas City Church Window

This was a window repair commission brought by Jerry G, from Highland Park, Tx. Jerry and his wife purchased this window, which apparently was taken out of an old church in Kansas City.

While cleaning the piece, it was dropped and the center section shattered and the entire plane bowed.

I carefully replaced the center glass, flattened the plane and cleaned up the entire piece.

Sur Le Mer

Featuring an ebonized hardwood base/top, beautiful one-of-a-kind ring mottle glass and a UL=listed light fixture with cord and line-switch, this lamp is one of 14 Japanese style lamps currently in the works. This one is already sold. Inquire about its' twin.

Tudor Windows

This is a pair of 12" X 48" Edwardian-style windows done in English Muffle glass for a Tudor home in Kessler Park, in Dallas, TX. Some of the glass is 1/8" thick!

Additionally, each of the windows can be removed and replaced in around 10 minutes per side. The goal is to be able to pull these out and replace with seasonal panels...Christmas stained glass, a spring pattern, etc. Exciting, huh?

(12 X 48)

Tudor 3-Panel Firescreen

This beautiful three-panel Tudor-style firescreen is framed in wrought iron and constructed completely from Wissmach English Muffle glass and lead came. Donated to be auctioned off by the Kessler Neighbors United (KNU) it was purchased by John Bivens for his nice Tudor home! My favorite firescreen so far!

El Corazon

Description coming soon.

(1.00)

The Gecko

"The Gecko" is a beutiful green candleholder made out of Ring Mottle glass with an ebonized hardwood base. No two are alike!

(1.00)

Ocean Spray

"Ocean Spray" is a beautiful candleholder made of Bullseye Ring Mottle glass and an ebonized hardwood base made by the artist. Only one for sale currently. Item is sold

(1.00)

The Tudor

The Tudor candleholder is my favorite. Made with Wissmack English Muffle glass and, generally, a White Oak hardwood base, this candleholder features a diamond applied to all four sides, generally in Gold, Sage Green, Steel Blue and either Red or Rose.

The pictured sample shows clear glass; also available in light amber, light blue (with only blue diamonds) and light peach (only occaisionally, diamond colors vary).

(1.00)

El Corazon

This beautiful Japanese lamp is one of 14 I'm making. Constructed with ebonized poplar and heart-pounding ring mottle glass, this lamp also features a UL-listed 110 volt fixture and a black cord with a line switch.

(9 x 9 x 11 5.00)

14 Japanese-Style Lamps

These are two of fourteen Japanese-style lamps under construction. While most will use exotic ring mottle glass, the artist will accept commissions using particular colors/glass, etc. Contact the artist. Six-panel and four-panel designs will be built. See the catalogue section for available lamps.

Fireflies Japanese Lamp

Reminiscent of fireflies in the Spring, this beautiful Japanese-style lamp features less radical ring mottle glass, an ebonized hardwood base/top and a UL-listed light fixture w/line switch. This is the first of 14 Japanese lamps I'll make.

"Crimson" Japanese Lamp

This four-panel Japanese lamp features Kokomo streaky red, orange, yellow and white opalescent glass, a hardwood base/top made by the artist, and a UL-listed light fixture w/line switch. Simple elegance

"The Gecko" Japanese Lamp

This beautiful Dark green Japanese lantern features stunning Green ring mottle glass, ebony base/top and UL-listed light fixture w/line switch.

This is what the artist has on his desk.

Two are available.

(8.5 X 12 5.00)

Diamond Cabinet Doors

This is a pair of five total cabinet doors done for an Oak Cliff customer.

The client had recently renovated the kitchen and had installed a beautiful diamond tile backsplash. I was asked to come and see the kitchen and design the windows. I was halfway home when I remembered seeing the diamonds in the tile, went back and photographed them, and executed the design in glass that she and I selected. She wanted the pewter lead lines to match the pewter cabinet hardware. Stunning!

Okeefe-Inspired Lamp

Description coming soon.

"Georgia"

This is one of several floral candleholders crafted from art glass and solid hardwood. Available with either an Ebony finish (shown) or natural dark Oak stain. Also available in silver solder or with black patina (shown). This candle absolutely glows in a dark space!

(4 X 4 X 4 2.00)

El Corazon - Natural Edge

This is a natural-edge candle holder in Blood-red Bullseye Ring Mottle glass. Titled "El Corazon" (the heart) it beats with life in a dark room, backlit by a flickering candle.

A 7-square foot sheet of ring-mottle glass has ONE natural edge..hence the rarity of this glass. Sure to sell fast!

(4x4x4)

Shoji Candleholder

This Shoji-style candle holder is reminiscent of the rice paper shoji screens in Japan. Crafted from either white or aqua Bullseye ring-mottle glass this candleholder serenely glows in a contemporary or Japanese-style home. Available with an ebonized hardwood base and black patina only. Can be commissioned in other colors if desired. Contact the artist.

(4x4x4)

El Corazon

El Corazon (The Heart) is crafted from dark ring-mottle glass that is truly variable from one square inch to the next.

Each will vary significantly from the next.

Stunningly beautiful, this is occaisionally available with a natural edge as well. Contact the artist to reserve yours now.

(4x4x4)

Water Lily

This floral-inspired candleholder features white and water-blue glass with black patina on a ebonized hardwood base. Signed by the artist, this is available only in very limited quantities. Contact the artist to inquire about availability.

(4x4x4)

Mantlepiece

Description coming soon.

Navajo Saddle Blanket

This commission came about when a customer. who also collects Navajo Saddle Blankets, brought me an image of a blanket hanging in a museum in Taos, New Mexico. The piece took an extraordinarily long time, having to be completely redone due to some engineering miscalculations. Framed in one of my quartersawn White Oak Mission frames, I hope it was worth the wait!

Recordando A Mi Madre, Maria - Remembering My Mother, Mary

This mosaic lamp was created specially for the 21st annual Bath House Cultural Center Day of the Dead exhibit..or Dias De La Muertos exhibit. It was accepted and will be shown in October and November, 2007.

It was created in the memory of, and honoring, my mother, who died almost one year ago.

(9" x 9" 13")