About Us
Founded by Dierk Van Keppel in 2019, Silica Studio was formed as a readymade lighting collection that honors the historic blown-glass lighting industry in the US.
A part of its long-standing parent company Rock Cottage Glassworks established in 1991, Silica Studio strives to preserve the tradition of blown-glass through innovative modern designs for decorative lighting.
Our Process
Welcome to Silica Studio, where our small team of skilled glassblowers transform molten glass into stunning, handcrafted creations. Our process is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the tradition of glassblowing by creating modern techniques to innovate our production process sustainably.
Our Custom Works best showcase the blend of innovative processes and artistic vision we share with our clients to create unique lighting pieces and sculptural art glass installations that elevate any space.
Meet the Artists + Designers
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Dierk van Keppel
Founder + CEO
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Josh Dickens
Senior Glassblower
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Bryan Morris
Senior Lighting Specialist
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Elena Smith
Designer + Marketer
The History Behind Our Collection
Cast iron blow-molds can produce thousands of the same glass forms before the end of its lifecycle, becoming increasingly important in the history of the glass industry during the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, by the end of the 20th century, many hand-blown and pressed glass factories had succumbed to economic failure, largely due to cheap glass produced offshore from foreign markets.
Subsequently, as factories defaulted and their cast iron mold resources were put up for auction, the remaining factories would often purchase and consolidate molds from other factories into their production lines. Two of these factories – Fenton Glass in Williamstown, West Virginia and Southwest Glass in Fort Smith, Arizona – were known to possess vast inventories of cast iron molds.
Understanding the historic and aesthetic value that these cast iron molds hold in American decorative glass history, Dierk Van Keppel, owner and glassblower at Rock Cottage Glassworks, made the decision to salvage as many cast iron molds as possible.
Silica Studio was founded soon after in 2019 as a part of Rock Cottage Glassworks to repurpose these decorative blown glass molds into readymade lighting solutions. Today Silica has amassed over 250 glass molds from factories that no longer exist, striving to celebrate and produce these precious artifacts from a bygone age in glass art and design.
Contact Us
Reach out to us to learn more about our products, request 3D models or samples, contact a sales rep, or start your custom design journey. We’ll be happy to get you started with your next lighting project or answer any questions you might have.
Get Started Today
We’re here to assist you with your project. Start your interior design project today and we’ll help you with everything you need for your glass lighting specification.